My Kutta & I

A Poem

This is a photo of the author’s niece Konka with two of her pets Jacky and Lulu. Photo: Fouara Ferdous

One day,
I’ll buy a Dobermann.
We’ll walk in Dhaka — all day and night.
I’ll call him “my Kutta”.
He will call me “my woman”.
And, nobody will be able to look at us.

We’ll collect tax together.
From who?
Well,
whoever has touched us without our consent.
whoever has raped us.
whoever has gulped us with their eyes.
whoever has whispered in our ears “sexxxyyy, aaha!” while passing by.

We’ll collect tax together.
This city will pay its due that day.
As tax we’ll cut their pee-pee into pieces and season with sea salt.
We’ll split their tongue and sprinkle some red pepper.
We’ll pour some hot oil in their ears.
And, nothing much.

• Kutta — is a Bangla slang word for Dog.
• From January to September 2020, in Bangladesh, 975 rapes, 208 gang rapes, 142 incidents of attempted rape, 29 died and 5 died of suicide after rape have been reported. There are undocumented rapes too. This poem is written in regard to those rapists.

Share a piece of your word about this poem on Instagram