Unlearning what she was taught

She shrunk herself,

because they said that girls should make space for others;

She starved herself,

because they said that fat girls could never be beautiful;

And she shaped herself,

to whatever they wanted her to be like.

She coats herself with makeup,

because they say brown is a colour that nobody would love;

She spends sleepless nights,

because they say dreaming big was never a girl's job;

She never dared to find her identity,

because in the end wasn't she just somebody else’s property?

But now, no more...

Now she feeds herself to her heart's content,

and takes up space to every bigot's lament.

Now she dreams freely,

And breaks every barrier bravely.

Now she isn't at war with herself or her sisters,

and empowers them ardently.

Now she knows herself clearly,

and all the chauvinists owe her an apology.

Now I can swear on myself that she is happier,

Now I can vow to protect her till the ends of the earth;

Now I can say with pride that she was my past,

and now I can claim with joy that she'll change my future.

✏️: @vachasvi & @ishani_jaiswal

🎨: @divya_pappu