Patna, India

My Body

I love my body

Oh yes, it is beautiful!

I got a haircut

In the best parlour

Last week

My skin is shiny

And soft

With cosmetics

I meet you

With a faceful smile

Each time

And you love it

You told me

Remember?

You told me

My breasts are beautiful

Heavy, tiny, oval or round

Beautiful in every shape.

You told me

My lips are beautiful

Red, pink, thick or thin

Lovely in any shade.

You told me,

In epics, novels, plays

In movies, songs and advertisements

Everywhere!

Oh yes, I am beautiful!

I am either beautiful or ugly

And nothing else.

I loved you because at least

You are not a rapist

You will not throw acid on my face

You will talk nicely

At least, to my face.

And yes, I am beautiful

In your eyes

As you tell me often,

My mind is beautiful,

My soul innocent.

And then you touch my beautiful body

For mind and soul

Cannot be touched

With the firmness

Of your grip.

I love it

I won’t deny

For this body is hungry for

The touch of your love

And you will never

Hurt it physically

At least.

This AT LEAST is that compensation

I live on

Day in and day out

And smile my soft smile

Shine my cosmetic face

Bounce my parlour-ed hair

Because I love my body

That you loved in your way.

I love my body

But quite often

I wish it disappears

So that you can see me!

Secret

Live secretly

Then wipe away

All the traces of

Your own life

Wash away your smile

After you have shared

Some ease of togetherness

Erase your body

Or cover it up

With layered lies 

Do away with

Everything

that spoke of life in you

Any spillage

Intended or co-incidental

Must be removed

Believe 

You never dreamed

Never desired

And you never ...

Hush

Hush

Hush

Live secretly

And leave no evidence

Of life anywhere

They can't tolerate

An alive woman!