Just For You Poetry

Gender discrimination and sad story of a poor village girl prompted this write
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At the bus station,
She stood nondescript
Staring into space.
Wearing a long skirt,
And a loose kurta.
A well worn red scarf,
Draped around her head.

An old man arrived
And stood beside her.
She shuddered and moved
To the other side.
Surprised, he stared back.
She retied her scarf
To cover her face.

Confused, he wondered
Why she behaved so.
Then buried himself
In his newspaper,
Until a strong wind
Raised her skirt quite high.
And blew the paper

Though she clutched her skirt,
He was shocked to see
The deep red bruises
On her shapely legs.
She had been attacked,
An explanation
Perhaps for her fear.

How could he reach out
To help this poor girl,
Without scaring her?
He mulled for a while
Over the matter...
Child - be not afraid,
He gently called out.

This time he saw her
Wipe tears with the scarf.
She had been sobbing.
One side of her face
Was terribly scarred.
I am done with men,
Was all she could say.

Another sad victim -
Sacrificed for greed,
Sold by her father,
To a rich old man,
Added to his harem,
Scalded and beaten
Into submission.

Today she managed,
To disguise herself,
In a maid's clothing
And make her escape.
Her final attempt
To run far away,
To make a new life.

I was glued from the first stanza to the last as your writing skill is brilliantly penned. Such an atrocious situation and yet she had the courage to escape. It is so good to see you on this site and to read your real life narrations Sandra.

Sandra, these writes i know, come from true life stories.

How young women are treated in these countries is barbaric and yet there seems to be no change or way forward for them. A hearbreaking story, and yet a little love is to be found in the concern of the old man..

I've read of such real-life tragedies. We keep hoping for that promised epiphany of spirit, but it's farther away than ever, it seems.

Very poignant Sandra. Happens so often.