she walks alone,
barefoot in the paddies of rice,
breaking her back for some precious grains.
she walks alone,
in jo’burg town, with a black eye,
smacked around by him the previous painful night.
she walks alone,
in the streets of neon hazed manila,
in the villages and in the small towns,
along the pristine hedges of rotten london,
on the crowded pavements of lonesome new delhi,
in the alleyways of twisted and rotten karachi,
across the rolling plains of the vast bounteous pampas,
over the winding back-ways of the sloping and grimy favelas,
on the glittering pavements of rich and sweetly-scented sick jeddah,
through the blindingly false boulevards of that sad los angeles town.
she walks alone,
bearing the burden of mother and daughter
of cook and sweeper and wife and mistress and punching-bag,
she walks alone,
through your streets and mine,
standing up as she is beaten more down,
loving a little as the bruises on her face turn purple,
feeding the little ones with morsels of hastily cooked beans.
she walks alone,
in factories and in mills and in buses,
in schools and in brothels and in places in-between.
she walks alone,
staying alive on the alms of the ‘charitable’,
violated by those who from the pulpit preach.
she walks alone,
my sister and yours,
my mother and yours too,
my lover and your beloved as well.
she walks alone,
caged by society in its invisible prison,
a slave of norms and culture and religion and caste,
she walks alone,
but she is the conscience of me and you,
screaming at us silently in hunger and despair,
she walks alone,
and though fearful of you men she may seem,
be warned that she may not forever be this alone,
for she too dreams and thinks and believes,
for she too needs and wants and loves and weeps,
in the silent night of complacency while impotent mankind sleeps,
and she too will rise and in rising slay,
the beasts that in your callous hearts prowl and lay,
and she too will demand her rightful place,
for every mother and sister and lover and daughter has a real, human face …
A wonderful, amazing tribute to all women in a very special way! We believe in us and we dare to dream today only because of true men like you still there to encourage us. A Very special Thank You to a talented poet! 💐
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you are far too kind, and I thank you for your very generous words – but the struggle continues and may we always tackle injustice head-on and with steadfast vigour.
Peace ✌
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Who knows this better than me an Indian Punjabi girl! Ironically it will take decades and more to change the mindset of society.
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so true, my friend … may we continue to fight one battle at a time so that the future generation should be appalled and totally dismissive of sexism and misogyny.
Warmest wishes and thank you once again.
Peace ✌
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Amen!
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Amen!
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Touche!
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Wil tweet
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Thank you my friend
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I cried as I read this.
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I have no words.
Peace and Equality ✌👍✊
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I am so moved.
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I am deeply touched that these words moved you, my friend.
Thank you again
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I am going to reblog this.
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once again, many many thanks my friend! am humbled
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I am humbled by your post.
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✌👍✊ Peace and Equality
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Peace
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What a beautiful tribute! Thank you❤
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thank you for your warmth and kindest words.
Peace and Equality ✌👍✊
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Women’s issues is a big business, it’s being milked by everyone for profit. Men & women who work in this sector are the richest & they aid no one.
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thank you for your insight, my friend. much appreciated
Peace and Equality ✌👍✊
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Bravo!!! Very well penned lines,highlighting all aspects in a woman’s life.
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thank you humbly, dear friend
Peace and Equality ✌👍✊
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Pleasure is all mine 😊
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Another touching and beautiful one Afzal. I truly admire and respect your poetic skills. They touch the heart. Best wishes 🙂
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thank you so very much, in all humility. Your words inspire me.
Peace and Equality ✌👍✊
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Amazing 🙂
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Thank you humbly 👍✊✌
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You’re very welcome! Women need men’s support too if we are going to be treated equally and this was such an inspiring read 🙂
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Many humble thanks again dear friend
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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chaman ke phool bhi tumko gulaab💕kehte hain, ek hum hei nahi jo tumko lajwab kehte hai….
Very well written👏👏👏👏Amazing!
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Thank you so very much. Much appreciated and warmest wishes
Peace and Equality ✌✊
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So welcome🌹🌹
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