Ode to Molestation

Ode to Molestation

A Poem by Anuradha Verma
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Written for International Women's Day, 2017.

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It’s a sordid affair,

A hush-hush tale,

About how someone pawed at her,

For their own selfish, vile thrill,

And how it haunts her still.


Known only by a few friends,

Though never the parents,

Because they’ll only blame her,

Or her choice or wardrobe, or,

“You shouldn’t stay out so late, Beta.”


A fear that follows her,

Into dank alleys and crowded trains,

Every shadow makes her jump,

A tug at her dupatta has her freezing,

A predatory stare has her calculating escape routes.


Those that “defend” her,

Come to arms under a banner of “Mother, Daughter, Sister”.

Don’t.

She might be all or none of those things,

But realize that she’s a person first.


I think it’s safe (ironically) to say:

When an unmolested woman becomes,

The exception and not the rule,

It’s time to take a step back,

And think about what we’re doing wrong.


Until then, I’ll be here,

Wrapping every violated woman,

In my blanket of soothing words,

And drowning every abuser,

In a torrent of furious rants.


© 2017 Anuradha Verma


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Added on March 18, 2017
Last Updated on March 18, 2017
Tags: women, poetry, society, molestation

Author

Anuradha Verma
Anuradha Verma

Mumbai, India



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An amateur poet since 2002, professional copywriter since 2020. Welcome to my corner of the internet, hope you enjoy your stay! more..

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