This poem confronts misogyny and victim-blaming directly, and refers to abuse, sexual double standards, and violence against women. It is a work of protest — the cruelty it names is the thing it rises against.
Two jaws
one murmur, one tears
one speaks son, other whispers tch tch tch behuda
one licks , one spits
name? it has different names
sometimes larka hai wo,
sometimes izzat,
sometimes log kia kahen gy?
ears? it has two ears
one hear footsteps,
and whispers ,
it's a man, this late? it's okay he is a man
other hears running
it's a woman, this LATE?
then chasing, shouting
tch tch tch behuda
eyes? it has two eyes
one sees a man,
abusive, lustful, disrespectful, oppressive, manipulative
averting gaze, covering it
whispering it's okay he is a man
other sees a woman up and down
seeing marks, bruises, silence, forced obedience, bound,
averting gaze, whispering it's okay it's a woman.
tongue? it has two tongues
one taste man
calling him Romeo, player, experienced, Strong, a real man, bold
other licks woman and spits back
making face at the taste of her flesh
calling her used, slut, whore, characterless, loose, cheap, tch tch tch behuda
nose ? it has one nose
smelling woman
her skin
inhaling shame
then laughing and calling others
saying " she was asking for it"
it has many sharp nails
every nail hold different names
larki ho tm
adjust kro
zamana kia kahy ga?
kia krogi parh likh k
acha to ?
mardo mein bat nahi krti orten
ghar betho
every nail teaches her to shrink
to stay silent
to be obedient
to lower gaze
force her to forgive the abusive
force her to apologize the disrespectful
force her to say yes to eat their flesh
it sits at the gates of different Houses
always hungry
drooling
waiting
people call it society,
forcing to nurture
a woman call it hyena,
shouting, abort the Hyena.