Tell me
Where a girl-child
Is safe
Tell me how
We can keep
Them safe
From rape
From abuse
From violation
From being
Turned into
Playthings
Tell me where
Women can live
Without fear
Where a girl child
Will not be mauled by
Hands and words
Tell me of a street
Where a woman
Can walk freely
Tell me of a man
Who will even now
Speak up, shout out
A man who will
Make at least
One heckler stop
Tell me of a man
Who will protect
A woman on a bus
Surely it is time we fight
To let our girl-children
shine
Let our women
Fearlessly rise
Speak up, shout out!
(Written for 'Shakthi: A Celebration of Femininity,' a fundraiser for Emerge Lanka Foundation to spread awareness about sexual assault/abuse through artistic avenues. See http://emergeglobal.org/ or emergeglobal.org/emerge-lanka-foundation/)
No comments:
Post a Comment