Afraid of the Sidewalk
Tic toc tic toc,
Said my high heels.
“There’s a bomb on the sidewalk!”
Shouted the guys on the wheels.
In terror I hastened my pace,
The guys weren’t interested in a chase.
I sighed, in relief
Not my turn yet, I believe,
And walked on. Tic toc tic toc
On the sidewalk.
Heard a scrape behind me,
A man’s shadow falls, I see.
As he inches closer, my heart pounds,
With his footsteps’ sounds.
My mind whirs, my fists clench,
“What had I learnt about self defence?”
I hold my breath as he walk past
It’s just a man who walks fast.
My turn is not today
I continue going my way.
Tic tok tic toc,
I am afraid of the sidewalk.
Home is just twenty minutes away
Thought I’ll ditch the auto today.
But the world where men openly pee,
Seems to be marked as their territory.
And the stench rising off the wall
Invades you, pervades all.
“That’s our space you are walking in,”
Says their gaze, undressing you to the skin.
I shouldn’t be this afraid of the sidewalk.
My mind laughs, “Such silly talk!
Haven’t you seen the papers of late?
But don’t worry today is not your date.”
Tic toc tic toc
High heels continue on the sidewalk.
I see someone approaching,
In my head, alarm bells ring.
I hold my purse tighter.
He’s is in police uniform, I feel lighter.
I think everything is fine
Till I see his eyes fixed on my neckline.
Thankful I have a scarf, I pull it down,
His eyebrows knit into a frown.
But that’s all he does, it’s okay
My turn in not today.
I step away as bikes zoom past
In case a hand shoots too fast
And grabs at my breasts again
Before it all registers in my brain.
But I am fine
It was barely a crime
They were gone before I blinked
Before all my senses synced.
Tic toc tic toc
It’s just another day on the sidewalk
Ah! My house is in sight
Felt like an adventurous night.
A walk down the street smelling of urine
Means regular rushes of adrenaline
My phone rings as I close my gate
Mother wants to know my fate
I am safe, Ma, behind closed walls,
She worries as the night falls.
But today was not my turn to be raped
Passing men just whistled and gaped.
But that’s fine
That’s no big a crime.
I feel better after a warm talk,
Tomorrow I’ll avoid the sidewalk.
