Awaiting the Dawn

We say the times have changed and there is progress

But has the looming threat on women's safety and security become any less?

The number of crimes and the cases of physical abuse on women,

Are still occurring every minute and tales of unspeakable horror are everyday woven.

That December night happened an act so traumatic.

The Nirbhaya incident proved humanity had really turned pathetic.

The unanimous outrage brought justice and we thought such crimes were at bay,

However, there are still such cases happening and the situation hasn’t changed much to our dismay.

Celebrating the 71st Independence Day people all over the country cheered,

And in the same moment, a small girl for her life feared.

Returning home from school after the festivities of nationality,

She was raped and robbed of her innocence, making it clear women were far from attaining liberty.

The love rejection he answered with such acidic disgrace,

That even she began to hate her own once pretty face.

In a country where we bow down to goddesses on one hand,

Why does the male ego by female rebuff get so easily offend?

For hours the mother and daughter were raped,

To make it worse the whole episode was even taped.

Who are we kidding when we say we have liberalized,

When even today women in their homes and neighborhoods are still traumatized?

A minor gets raped by a classmate and ends up terribly bruised,

Another bears a child because of her own uncle’s abuse.

‘Save the Girl Child’ and ‘Educate the Girl Child’ they say,

But with such deeds, they rob the innocence and future in every way.

All these incidents bring to the fore an important question,

Are women always going to be the victim of all kinds of obsession?

Here’s hoping in the New Year women won’t be subjected to such heinous crimes

And feel liberated in the true sense in the coming times.