Sound Of Silence

“Girl child it is”,

They were all mum.

No joy, no elation.

My mother was numb.

As quiet as burial ground,

Was my welcome in home.

Why wasn’t love echoing,

In marble walls of dome.

Grown up, I was playing in fields.

Came an uncle from far off lands.

With love and lust,

Laid his pervert hands.

I gathered my clothes and later, courage.

Telling my mom about it wasn’t easy either.

She told me to forget it.

As with age, it’ll gradually wither.

Fragrance of henna was everywhere,

I was about to get married.

Saw the same uncle and memories

Of horror came back, which I’ve carried.

In the fields, felt the same hands on me.

Picked up a stone and smashed his head.

With this, I screamed at the top of my lungs,

Hands of henna were drenched in red.

I cursed him with all of my anger.

“Animal attack” is what they said.

This was the sound of my silence,

When released was enough to put him on a deathbed.