Who's Hera if not Zeus' wife- Oh his sister!

By Namrata Sarkar

Look at the mirror!

When all you have been is an ornament on someone’s throat, when all you have been is the kohl on someone’s eyes, when all you have ever been is the body that’s bruised and used, do you ever look at yourself and wonder if you will ever be more than that?

She looks at the mirror.

They say, “You are a sight for the sore eyes.” But all she sees are her eyes. Those lifeless eyes.

A woman.

You will be objectified, sexualized and victimized every time you breathe on this planet, but you dare not raise your voice!

Walk behind, follow the crumbs of oppression your mothers faced, listen darling, good women don’t bargain!

You are tamed and tainted with values your fathers and sons don’t have to adorn on themselves, you do understand that men will be men, right!

Dress well, behave well, work more but bloody eat less! You have to learn to sacrifice more and treasure less than the bare minimum!

Hide your face from men and look your best only when it’s for the man that takes your hand in marriage, you’re unfortunate if your beauty isn’t the only thing they appreciate!

Don’t to this, don’t do that, don’t climb trees, don’t run on the fields, you brat, you are a girl, so behave like one!

Raise the child right but you’ll get praises none, but if they turn out to be assholes, it’s always the woman who is to be beaten!

Oh, the sons’ doing well-paid jobs and the daughter is married off, yes indeed what a good riddance of responsibilities, we must admit, they passed well off!

Compromise and sacrifice are the only things you get to raise, did you say something? Never cared, love is the only seed we haven’t planted!

Water down your anger with those tears that fall, I don’t see what’s there to be angry about, wait, aren’t you a woman above all?

Your sister can do the dishes, your wife can wash the clothes you shed, men, don’t fret, have a good Sunday!

When are you going to raise kids, aren’t you already like 30? You do know that every penny you earn is only to suffice the guests at your kid’s wedding!

Grow up, become your best but please be behind men even if it’s one step, as a woman, you should know your place!

Let them touch you, let them devour you with those sinful eyes but wait, did you say no? well, never heard about that before! But wait, did you say yes? Well, won’t care to wait for that anymore!

Be who you are, but not too much, be someone who can be contained, stay in line, for you’re the next chosen patriarchy’s puppet!

What are you if not my wife, my mother, my sister, my girl best friend? A person with an identity of yourself? Let that be reserved for the men!

Respect you say? Well, you see, respect has to be earned and anyone who’s born as a woman is a disgrace in itself! Respect you say? Don’t you see yourself in the mirror like every day?

But they say the mirrors don’t lie.

She looks at the mirror.

Her beauty’s her grace, her heart ricochets every bullet she gets, her body burns every hand that lays on her without a yes, her kindness is her strength. But who is she if not a human being herself?

She looks directly at the person she faces.

But all she sees are those eyes. Those lifeless eyes.

Waiting forever to be found in this nasty maze of life.

By Namrata Sarkar