Oh! Women of the World
written by: Amit Kumar
We wish to see all the women free
But a free woman- ‘One’ cannot see
I see people drawing portraits of women
Breaking the bars, one of those iron-woven
Flying out of prison, crowned with fresh rowan
Wings of an angel, a sight of the coven
I see people often praising such a sketch
The struggle, the pain, a dramatic stretch
The glimpse and glory, all trying to fetch
Selling a cosmetic dream, by gracing the wretch
I see people of empowerment; they speak
From the depth of the cleavage, a slut they seek
Measuring the backless, creepily, they peek
Judging characters, mocking the meek
I see people, too progressive, they play
All smoke and drinks, the kind of wife they pray for
Good for girlfriend, spouse or bae
For daughter and sister, simply nay
I see people expecting respect from kneeling
That touch of the feet, that charade of veiling
A temptress, they say, every part is appealing
The cleavage, the backless, too much revealing
I see women, often compared and idealized
A godly creature, they say, but a soul materialized
Seen larger than life, sacrosanctly sacrificed
For brother or father, husband or child
I see most of what I have around
The bodies and souls, in a box impound
Writing it all down, things I feel and see
No, I’m not alone, but I wish it to be
Together in all of this, not I but ‘We’
No, I’m not alone. Sadly, ‘I’ isn’t the only me.
Alas! Utopian is the dream to follow
Or I might be long gone
The thought of free women is hard to swallow
For women, too, not men alone
All I wish to see is all the women free
But a free woman- ‘One’ cannot see.
Therefore, here I request you all.
All the women of the world
Leave your jobs, your aspirations
Keep aside all that talk of following ‘the passion.’
Oh! Women of the world, come back again
Within these four walls of anonymity
With voice, rights, identity and opportunity
And that too before the fall of humanity.
However, I cannot assure you all.
That this time-to-be any different
Though I expect you to be ‘the difference,’ this time
I ask of you to take the helm and be the change, the prime
Make no mistake, leave no stone unturned
Just lead the way based on learned and earned.
But remember, while making that difference.
Or performing those roles and stereotypes.
Do not merely follow the ideal or ‘the archetype.’
Sure, there would be a lot to remember,
While raising a man of tomorrow
But do not picture a celebrity or a warrior so great
Do not picture your beloved brother, father or grand-dad
Do not raise your child, like the ones
You have always known, desired or admired
But remember all those
Who caused you pain or inflicted the harm
Who mocked you, who locked you
Who choked you in awe of their narrow-minded charm.
While raising a child of tomorrow
Do not think of the past and present,
But of the future and a generation yet to come
Do not think of what, but what not
As a brethern, they would respect for sure,
But only near their blood ties
But a child raised far from these socially perfect idols
Would not outrage your modesty or make you suicidal
And that’s why I am making this call
As I can say for sure
By the time you turn eighty or more
Things might be worse or the same as before
Oh! Women of the world,
Come back again within these four walls
To break silence, confinement, neglect, dependency
And that too before the fall of humanity.
- Oh! Women of the World - July 16, 2026
