International Women's Day 2014

Happy IWD

Why do we have IWD

You've asked

And wondered

I've said

One day is a context clue

Little ones, that there's work

Still to be done

just like one month

For Black History, and my

Boxed people "South Asians"

Tamil Heritage 

Yeah we shouldn't, right 

Maybe leave me

A month and a year too

Seeing as I do 

all the work anyway

And labour

How about I 

celebrate my 

Life

And courage 

And personhood

Every day

And revel in the joy

That I'm raising a son who knows that

And a daughter 

who strives 

and shines

So here I stand

Hand in invisible hand

Of women far and near

Dear strong daughters

Of Shakti

who resist

The imprint of The Father

The gaze of submission

And the labelled box 

When they look YOU

in the eye

Speak in Urdu, Tamil, Gujrati in

Your hallways

And smile knowingly

So here I am

Paused and poised 

I proclaim

I was 

before

You

Else who would

Have given birth

To these worlds?

To you even 

And your heirs?