OH MY GIRL!!

Oh my girl!!

How long will you struggle in this twirl?

It is said it is the opposite gender that put you in trouble and grill

But why are you never talking about the people of your gender, who have put you often through the drill

In the form of a friend. In the form of a colleague, In the form of a superior, In the form of a boss

In the form of a mother-in-law, In the form of a daughter-in-law, In the form of a sister-in-law, In the form of a co-sister, In the form of a mother too at times

In the form of a neighbour, in the form of an owner, in the form of a caretaker

Forms can be any, creating trouble for you are many

So first of all, you ask these people of your tribe to respect you, value you and love you

Let them be the ones who would not stop you from rising. Shut you from voicing, Part you while achieving or defend you while seeking

Let them not put you down and stamp until you drown

Let them not make fun of another girl or woman or wife

Let them not enjoy when another one of their own gender is being insulted, ridiculed or teased

Let them not be someone who gets the life of another woman ceased

Let them Live, and Let you Live

Oh girl! It is only a woman who can bring in a change

Let the Change Begin In You, so that you have the freedom to Ask Your Men To Change

Change is Only the thing that can Bring in a Change, so Dare to Change

HAPPY WOMENS DAY

I FEEL EMPTY

I FEEL EMPTY

I yelled, I screamed

But alas all were just onlookers

I asked for help, pleaded for a hand

But alas all were just gaze lovers

Nothing did I do wrong

Nothing did I say wrong

Neither was my dress skimpy or small

Neither was I drunken or involved in a brawl

I was just another person walking on the street

 Rejoicing another day of my life having achieved some feat

I suppose my mistake was being all alone

Not depending on a male to bring me home

I need to just ask, would I have been spared if I had a man along

Weren’t there instances when even the men were beaten or bruised or even killed just to get on the woman they throng?

I never thought the beasts were left loose again

Searching for a prey if not for a rape but at least a grope

What is my society expecting from me?

Do I need to be always accompanied by a man?

Don’t I have the right to just walk alone?

Can’t I be all alone, be it day or night?

How much do I depend on my father and brother?

How much do I depend on my husband and son?

How much do I keep on cursing myself for being a woman?

How much do I tell myself that am incapable of moving alone?

Oh my girl, my forsaken breed in the human race,

 I think it’s irreverent to seek for help and seek a change

The people around us are the same and will remain the same

It is only we who can bring a change by becoming the change

Let us learn to defend ourselves

Let us equip to save ourselves

Let us be courageous 

Let us show our true self that is audacious

We need to become mentally and physically strong

In order to be able to tell these creatures what is right and what is wrong

Necessary it is to stop these things from happening

Change for a better living poised with grace duly embracing

'Boys don't cry'!!.....

‘Boys don’t cry’!!.........

Boys don’t cry

Neither do they shy

This is what was told from the time I got my senses

Is it true that I should hold onto this in all consequences?

Do I not have the right to be sad?

Do I not have the right to express if I feel bad?

Why is it that right from the beginning I was told ‘you need to be strong’

‘Never break down how much ever you feel like to throng’

I still remember the first day of my school

All and I, of my age were crying our heart out ignoring the rule

Shhhh!!...told my mom ....‘Boys don’t cry’!!

I immediately shut my mouth with my little palm with a heavy sigh

The next day too was nothing much different

But somewhere within me, I had instilled the ‘no tear intoxicant’

Years flew by in leaps and bounds

A fall here and there, bruises and wounds were the new founds

Again the same theory was repeated... Boys are strong

Hurts are to be ignored as it comes and goes which is not wrong

I do agree that all this is just fine

Growing up like this was happening since my granddad’s been nine

Age passed by to teenage and young age

Physical and emotional changes took a surge

Began the cruise of likes and crushes

Again it was supposedly to be hushed aside with strokes of brushes

In no time I was a grown up boy

Matured and immaculate, a young lad in coy

Secured and safe, earning my own bread

Attached with me few flings on a delicate thread

Here too at times I did not get what I desired

Hard I did try, but things failed making me tired

I wished many a times, I could shed a tear

Especially when losing the girl I love most was my fear

But I was reminded the same old saying

Boys don’t cry and it’s a sin to show your emotion swaying

It was just another phase I know, this too abruptly passed

I feel a bit surprised how successfully this I trespassed

Then I became the responsible man of the house

Wife and kids looking unto me for support in all chaos

Even today, at times I feel like letting me be me at least in a try

But those words reckon behind me .....‘Boys don’t cry’!!

Surprised I am, is this the same what every man experiences

Or is it that only I am a little out of my senses

I wish I too could cry and yell all my woes and fears

At least once I need to tell the world that it’s just normal for boys to shed some tears

                            When Cupid Strikes..

     

                                          I still remember the day we met

                                          

                              Cordial was the strike as though it was preset

                                       

                                         Entranced I got in your thoughts

                                           

                                        Callously that crept into me in lots

                                            

                                              Foraying mildly in and out

                          These precept's were asking me should I or should I not

                       

                               

                                 Jumbled were those enigmatic shrills of silence

                                            That unearthed me into a trance

                                

                                 Calming my mind that harnessed varied hues

                             Trampling and treading I decided to move my shoes

                                     

                                        This is when I decided to cry and croon

                                     And say the world ‘yes I am in love so soon’

                               

                                In fact I would say since then love was in the air

                           It is just that I felt confessing it on this Valentine’s Day 

                                        

                                                              is amicably fair                                                                                          

                                                                                                          

On My Toes

                                On My Toes

    

                                             I tread along the path of quietude

                                     To discover myself and fulfill my dreams

                                            Long lies the road, calm and cool

                                              Magical is the vibe as I strode

                                         A sort of solitude, soothes my soul

                             Heavenly is the feel and magnificent is the stroll

                                    Silver linings sneak a look to smile at me

                             Dangling dews like the pristine pearls adorn me

                                 Destination need not be definitely defined

                                   Nor is it necessary to be pre determined

                           I set off to see what nature holds for me in its kind

                              Seeking the sweetness that is ravishingly divine

                     I dwell into the gallows, the mountains and the Pine Hills

                                 When my body and mind is still in its frills

                                    This is the best time to creep and crawl

                                            And coo to the stupendous call

                 There is no better therapy that heals our mind and soul alike

                                        Travel gives mellowness with a strike

                              Leaving my hive for a while, let me hove and hike

                              Ponder onto these earthy stills and do what I like

                                Mesmerizing will remain these memoirs thee

                         Accompanying me for the rest of life that ought to be

                               Entrenched is this spirit in my spine and veins

                           Never would I sabotage these precious travel trails

                                                                        

Red and Grey checks

         Red and Grey checks

            

I was myself, happy and fine

Enjoying life playing and singing like any other girl of nine

Excited and joyous I was when I got into my school

Red and Grey checks was that enthralled me with its rule

The school and teachers and my friends were the best

My happiness had no bound as it was in full zest

I loved and liked every teacher alike

But why did ‘only HE’ betray my trust that was childlike

Today I lay numb here not knowing what to say

Shattered and tattered not knowing what to do and what not to do as I may

I ask myself, is the mistake mine?

Wanting to wear the red and grey checks is a sin or fine

But in spite of all this I see a ray of hope

Just because I could voice up at least now and pull the rope

Today I am amidst the people who are caring for me

Supporting my courage to fight against the one who outraged me

Physical and emotional are the scars that is left behind

But determined I am to fight and live my life that is still kind

I only tell my pals let not this happen to you

Be alert, Be aware and Be smart to decide what can and what cannot evade through you

Ignorance leads to many of the things that happen

Equipped you be, to let not anything haywire your dreams and dampen

It is a beautiful life we are bestowed with to live to the full

I request every parent, sibling and the near and dear one not to shy away and do the needful

.....the last who did not last.....

THE LAST WHO DID NOT LAST

I stare into the jungle

Gazing at the emptiness

Not a single one of my kind to be seen

The eerie silence hurt my ears

And I could feel the hollowness in my heart

I took one indefinite step back,

Tears welling in my eyes.

Until the sound of a gunshot,

Snapped me back to life

I could hear voices coming towards me

People shouting, “The cat’s here!”

Not one, but five men, quickened their pace

At the sight of me

I Froze.

Now was my time—Run and try to make a new start

Or die at the hands of these merciless rats.

I am pretty confident I’m the last one standing

I’d rather die than live a cold unloved life.

TANVI NAMBIAR