23 July 2012

A woman is not a plaything

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