Child marriages still do exist. In so many developing countries, it does. I read the book A Thousand Splendid Suns when I was in my class 11. I was shattered and broken. So I took a lot of time to write this and hence the delay in posting.
Here goes the poem:
I have heard stories of my birth,
how my mother had to leave the earth.
And my father burdened with me,
I always tried my best to be the good girl you see.
I yearned for friends and the slate,
With hope, for a long time, I did wait.
I was happy with the tattered doll,
I grew up thin and tall.
Out of the blue, we had guests one day,
But they looked big for me to play.
The ugly looking women cleaned me up,
shining clothes and a lot of makeup.
From shining clothes to none in few hours,
I shrieked in pain and looked like the dead flowers.
I had asked daddy for a friend.
With a demon, life I had to spend.
In a week, my life came to an end.
My mother’s soul now rests in peace.
Mine awaits a release.
I am invisible and shoo all demons away from people like me,
Looks like my soul forever trapped it will be.
And it is Day 15 of UBC
Beautifully written poem and very sad. Thank you for opening my eyes to the reality of childhood marriage.
I can’t even imagine why a man would want to marry a child. I’m equally hard-pressed to imagine there are so many perverts in the world… I know it happens; I just can’t imagine how anyone benefits, really. So very sad and tragic.
I have not read the book, it remains in my wishlist as of now. … But i could feel the sadness, the angst in the poem..
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What a sad yet beautiful poem.
Ramya, this was heart-wrenching! You have brought out the innocence, the bewildered sense and angst of the little girl so well! Sad, poignant and haunting.
Child marriage is really a curse on society!It is heart-breaking to see a child lose her innocence and childhood.A very thought provoking poem Ramya!
CHILD MARRIAGE STILL persists in our society …beautifully describe the bitter truth of child marriage keep up the good work 🙂
This is creativity at its best . Wow I mean Wow. Hats off to you
This can make everyone cry.
Horrible thing this child marriage.Beautiful
Heart-breaking and a bitter reality for many….!
This is so sad, you have beautifully captured the pain and trauma of child marriage. It reminds me of A thousand splendid suns.
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A heartbreaking practice – I had learned of this many years ago when I studied cultural anthropology in college. And to think this horrible practice still exists.
So much power lies in such words that make us still in our mind and thought. It rips the heart apart. What a world we live in!
I am speechless ramya..too good!
Ramya, with each passing day your poems are getting better and the I love the way you bring out the various social issues so beautifully.
Very Nicely written,education is very important to guide children to resist such marriages..Menaka Bharathi has recently published http://simpleindianmom.in/5-easy-soil-testing-you-can-do-it-yourselves-for-growing-organic-vegetables
I love how your gentle words are baring the harsh truths of life, Ramya.
Yes, I’ve read A Thousand Splendid Suns too, and it broke my heart. Closer home, child marriages still take place, in Rajasthan, but no one attempts to stop them and save the children.
Very well put. Let’s hope this stops soon.