Don’t cry like GIRLS!

Don’t cry like GIRLS!

Don’t cry like GIRLS! 

Often boys are told this. Just one sentence that has such a heavy and dark meaning to it. Are we are telling our boys that girls are weak? Are we telling are girls that they are not strong enough?

This is such a sexist statement, that girls and boys often grow up listening to. Aren’t we not preparing our generations to become what we ourselves criticize. Telling the boys that they can man handle the girls when they want to. Assuring the girls that they always need someone to protect them.

We don’t realize but many things that we put into the minds of our children leads to changes in the society. It’s all on us how to raise them. Whether we want to nurture them with good practices or we want to lead them to a weak and filthy future.

Somewhere deep down, when we give it a thought, we understand that such statements encourage the bigger problems to come challenge us in future. The dark reality of eve teasing and rapes starts to haunt us starting from the four walls. 

I pledge not to raise my children with such sexist statements to contribute towards what little I can do for the society.

After all, it’s a matter of our children’s future!

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The Strix – Metamorphosis

The Strix – Metamorphosis

Biological speaking an example is the butterfly. Evolve out of the caterpillar into a butterfly happens automatically, it’s a natural process. The caterpillar trusts in the power of nature, trusts her own instinct, and becomes a wonderful creature. 

Mythological speaking an example is Zeus, God of Ancient Greece, who transformed himself into a bull to seduce Europe, a goddess of love. He succeeded and brought Europe to a strange continent and left her. Aphrodite, Goddess of love, found her there and said:

“Let the bridle and grumbling, pretty girl! The hated bull will come and offer you his horns; I’m the one who sent you this dream. To your consolation, it is Zeus that robbed your virginity: now you’re the earth goddess of the invincible god. Immortal your name will become, since the strange continent that has absorbed you, shall be called from now on Europe! “

Magical speaking wizards and witches transformed various objects and people for good and bad purposes. A Prince turned into a frog by a witch, could only transform back after a kiss from a Princess.

We don’t have the powers of wizards and witches, gods and goddesses.
We do have the power to think, to transform to whoever we want to be.

Who do you want to be?

Patty from Kruidje-Roer-Me-Niet

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It had been there for days. The small, mint green bud, hanging by a small stem, on a small plant in her backyard. Lilly wondered what Mr. Tiger was planning. She called him that because he was black with vivid green stripes all over that reminded her of a tiger. He had hidden himself inside that thing for more than a week. Lilly was very worried at the start because she couldn’t feed Mr. Tiger his lettuce anymore, the way she did every day before he wrapped himself up.

She complained to her father about Mr. Tiger. Was he upset with her? She didn’t want him to leave so soon. Her father chuckled and carried her so she could see outside the kitchen window where Mr. Tiger was cocooned.

“Do you think he’s sleeping?” She had asked.

“I think he’s planning a surprise for you, Lilly,”

She squealed at that. Lilly loved surprises. Since then, she had made sure to check on Mr. Tiger every day so she wouldn’t miss her surprise. Today, Lilly did the same. She sat watching the small bud, which had changed a lot in the week. It had a pretty pattern on it and she wondered if Mr. Tiger drew it himself. Just as she did, it shook.

She reared back in surprise, gasping. Its happening! It shook again and Lilly leaned closer so she could see better. His antennas poked out first and then. . . She furrowed her eyebrows. Slowly, the shell around Mr. Tiger fell away as two beautiful wings emerged.

“Surprise!” Her father smiled, crouching next to her.

“Daddy! What’s happened to Mr. Tiger?” She couldn’t look away from the emerging ‘Mr. Tiger’ even for a second. He wasn’t green and black and chubby anymore. She watched, awestruck, as his new and delicate wings expanded, after being squished in that magic bud.

“He’s changed now into a beautiful butterfly, see?”

Lilly saw him test his wings out, spreading them across his back.

“But why?”

“Well. . . That’s how nature works. It’s one way nature shows us that beauty is in simplicity. And if you allow change to occur, you can morph into something beautiful, like Mr. Tiger did,”

Lilly watched the butterfly flutter, taking its first flight.

Michelle from Psychedelic Bay

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And now she rises, immortal,
From the million fallen pieces,
The ones she combined after all,
Afraid of the dark faces,
She feared every fall,
For she be but still fragile,
She still grew inside her,
Like the little fire, cold for a while,
And that which burnt bigger now,
Somewhere deep within,
It made her grow,
And so she did,
Along with burns and scars,
She bolstered the joints,
She stitched those pieces,
And grew further, towards the stars,
She grew,
Whole, elegant and new,
Born again from the million pieces,
That the dark had broken her into,
Now she fought with the night,
Using the ever growing fire inside.

Kashaf Shaikh from A Word Warriors Blog

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Have you heard of the story of the ugly duckling? I’m sure we all have. And as kids, we might have even dreamed of a similar transformation–when you finally grow into a woman’s body with the perfect curves, or for the boys, to grow strong, with 6-pack abs and big biceps. That’s all good and well. But not all transformations are physical. There are some that take place deep deep down in our being. Like the one I’m about to tell.

This is a story about Sammy and Samantha.

Sammy runs around the house riding her broomstick pretending she is a witch. Her broomstick would take her everywhere she want, from the great castle called The Bedroom, to the enchanted land of The Yard. Samantha runs her breath out trying to catch the bus.

Samantha is horrified of sweets! She’s on a strict diet, you see. Sammy’s favorite food are cake, candies, tarts, pie, and oh!..candies.

Sammy believes on princes and fairy godmothers, of tales about love, valor, and living happily ever after. Samantha’s living her own love story, where there’s no prince or kingdoms or castles to be seen. In fact, she had her heart broken yet again. A fairy godmother would be most welcome now.

Samantha only sings in the bathroom, where no one can hear. Sammy sings to the beat of Timon and Pumbaa, even when half the class is listening.

Sammy would have fun under the rain, jumping on puddles and chasing her dog round and round the yard until Mom tells her to get inside. Whenever it’s pouring, Samantha sulks under the mattress listening to emo songs.

Samantha walks out and locks in her room when scolded. Sammy listens and apologizes.

Sammy is excited every Halloween because it’s the only time she gets to put on makeup. Samantha does it almost everyday to hide her puffy eyes.

Samantha. Sammy.

The two of them are so different, don’t you agree? They are almost opposites, actually. But would you believe me if I tell you that they are one and the same. Surely, the metamorphosis did not happen overnight. It took years, but she didn’t notice herself changing day after day. Until days became months, and months to years. Until finally now. What happened to that happy girl who used to laugh and love the world? What have become of her mirth? Why does she feel heavier. How can she fly, with all her heart’s burden?

Fly. Can a cocoon fly?

No. Not yet.

Alpe John – The Juandering Artist

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The greatest of tales as narrated by TIME

Witnessed to go beyond eternity

it’s about a journey

That started with a little warmth

A magical experience so soothing and calm

Minutes passed and then did hours

Gradually, the warmth turned Cruel to heat unbearable

Species of all kind, started to pale

The journey slowed down, even came to a halt

Life was about to declare its extinct

Glaring up to the sky with hands two folded

They decided to pray for a little mercy

It happened then – a secret miracle

The Sun metamorphosed to a Moon

Bringing a breeze to shower the life

The Orange started to turn into white

There was no heat, the journey was smooth

Life, taking its time to relish the cool

Inevitable, the cool progressed to freeze

They all had to wake up from their dream

Once more, they all decided to pray

Looked up to the sky, then closed their eyes

Their lips murmured a few words of magic

And the Moon metamorphosed to the Sun

Showering

ELIXIR of LIFE on LIFE

Zigyasa Kakkar from mySestina

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Rebirth

First bated breath:
powder blue to flushed pink

fragile, screaming, dependent, weak

infantile form, vulnerable, soft and pale

downy fuzz, eyes blurry, seeking milk

Cells divide, new tougher skin grows

heart pounds with skeptical hope

in time learning to walk, run, trip

hardier human form takes shape

Thrown callously into earthly wake

millions of eons of history before her

being hardened, jaded with pain

she smiles past precarious pasts

Opens her molting heart fast

shedding scars each time it cracks

it only heals stronger, adapts

Metamorphosis perhaps…

That predictable constant — change

the only thing that stays the same

in time she has shed herself, become

a whole new her, never succumbed

Entirely new heart, new eyes

new love, new breath, new skies

to view upon the broken world

with hope that truth optimizes

Her constant redesign, her rebirth…

Until one day…wings sprout forth

from her back, set her to lofty flight

above the looming black, into the light

her white feathers illuminating her path

Transformation complete

…she soars.

Emily Clapper from Poet Girl Em

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Expressions Crossing Continents

the Day never arrived

the Day never arrived

I was aware, yet I chose to lie to my heart

two things for me

to win his affection were either love or blood

I had none

neither he shared his blood with me

nor he ever fell in love with me

I craved for him to be mine

not just with the body but his soul

sadly

the day never arrived

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Are Rich Truly Rich

Are Rich Truly Rich

are they rich for they have wealth

are they rich for they own a lot of land

are they rich for they can buy all the comforts

are they rich for people bow to them

shall we put it the other way

are they truly rich for their money can’t buy them a smile

are they truly rich if they don’t care for the poor

are they truly rich for they spend sleepless nights

expensive mattress can’t buy them tension free sleep

shall we conclude it now

no they are not rich for the peace of mind is not sold anywhere

no they are not rich for they are never satisfied

no they are not rich for they live fake lives

i guess the rich with money are mostly poor

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Her Insecurities

Her Insecurities

morning, was bright & shining
with life all around
there were birds singing
as I touched my feet to the ground

give me a hug my princess
dad caressed my forehead
come, have your breakfast sweety
said mom with milk & bread
this world really was a perfect place
until, I stepped out of the gate

walking my way to college
they started to follow
lewd notes on my frame
made my spirit hollow

there was a push & hit
didn’t know what to think
ran as hard as i could
it was torn – my hood

my world became horrid & bent
i pinched myself to check
if it was a nightmare
or was i even breathing

i die a thousand deaths
to see that I am not safe
why for me in the whole world
my home is the only place

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sexual abuse = terrorism? yes! because the haunting never ends

sexual abuse = terrorism? yes! because the haunting never ends

Can we term Sexual abuse as terrorism?

My vote goes to say YES!! You want to ask why??

Because it has the capacity to terrorize the victim, fill them with grief and puts them into a state of mind which requires a lot of effort to come out of. Sexual abuse is been experienced by many children and I don’t think there is a way to find out the numbers, as most of the victims choose not to disclose it.

It is sad that a girl accepts the life where she is challenged everyday with sexual abuse out in the open. On the road – walking, in a bus – travelling, sitting alone in a park and many other places. She starts to think that those idiots have a sad frame of mind and she will have to deal with it and hence, she prepares herself which she must but the right way to deal with the problem is to deal with the culprits in a strict manner.

I have experienced it and there are many more like me. It could happen anywhere, be it home or outside. Everyday, using the local transport in New Delhi, made me so easily accessible for all those sick idiots. They would just stand close, giving an excuse that the bus is too crowded. They would rub their body against wherever they could get access to you. Their filthy looks and such shameless attitude.

The abuse can be intensive or not too intensive, yet, it leaves a mark on your mind never to be washed away. It kills you from the inside every moment.

Even till date, when I think of those days when I faced the abuse, I get goosebumps.

The question in my mind now is – how are my daughters going to face it? A challenge that haunts me!!

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We have no Song

We have no Song

together

we couldn’t write a song

failed to make memories

to last for long

his emotions

failed him, to reach to me

my words, failed me at the same time

henceforth

shall we part

for there’s no music for us

we have no song

to us

it just doesn’t belong

– the song

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Face behind a Face

Face behind a Face

last night in bed, I was told a tale

of an Angel by heart & a Demon angel faced

both looked beautiful like a new born child

the tale progressed, unfolding what they had to hide

their pink soft lips forever wore smiles

smiles that concealed the truth of their lives

I sat tight in my bed without blinking my eyes

determined to discover the secret behind their smiles

the tale came to an end revealing their intent

where the Angel wore a smile to hide her pain

the Demon wore the same to hide his true face

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A Good Bye to simplify things

A Good Bye to simplify things

it was

getting burdensome for him

I felt him

running away from me

for me

it was tough, I was anxious, in pain

ignored, my messages not being responded

excuses and lies

everyday I faced

& one day

he simplified things

he said

goodbye

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Words!

Words!

sometimes I wonder

am I reading them

or they reading me back

words

as they complete me

as they fill me

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