Beautiful… skin & beyond
A little girl, quiet & withdrawn
made to feel why she’s born ?
In a land where people are brown
& the weather hot
the fair ones call the shot.
She feels the guilt & abhor
for no fault of hers
as dark she’s born
& fair she couldn’t opt…
Is it a colonial hangover ?
or the caste system disclosure
that is …the higher, the lighter
She’s too young to decipher.
Festivals ought to bring joy & thrills
She picks up a frock that’s red & has frills
Show the same in pastel & subdued
someone suggests to the shop dude
He hands over the red one
to the much fairer cousin
but the little girl doesn’t whine.
She grows up to be
shy, awkward & low on confidence
emotions bottled up ,
there’s never a peck or a pat
the lighter sister claims all that,
& she’s taught not to answer back.
Education was advised, the only way
not to stand on her own feet
but to compensate for the other gambit
prospective groom can compromise
if not lovely, she’s at least wise.
As always , she does what she’s told
cracks an exam , gets into a college to behold !
That was her first brush with a lead
that the youth brought ahead
that was no ugly duckling turning into swan tale
but celebratory saga of her hues of caramel
When told she’s amazing
She’s caught unawares
as clearly not used to such praising caresses
instilled with the degree & the new found “dusky beauty” fame
She’s different now & that changes the whole ball game.
Years turned into decades
here she’s at the crossroads again
as she notices the lines on her face
& silver in her thinning mane
we live life in phases, she wants to tell the little girl in her
& thank her for everything she endured
which made her appreciate things hard earned
To the young lady, she wants to express her gratitude
because she’s the one who gave her strength & attitude.
She knows courage, kindness & gratitude
are the badges of honour
as age peers through the mirror…
The doctor in her, gestures to her to roll out the yoga mat
as it is time now to pay attention to the creaky joints &
build up those muscles , staying fit is the case in point.
To be able to travel the rest of the road with dignity & grace,
No skin deep beauty, now she wants beautiful pancreas !
