double standards

on one hand
our proud men
reveal themselves
freely on the walls
clearly stating
‘𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’
‘𝘺𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘢𝘣 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘪’

is a terrible wonder in itself
how our public spaces
running at a high pace
(𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘦𝘴)

have to be safeguarded
by putting up
frames of gods and goddess
the walls deserving
to be a representation
of our colors and cultures
have become a canvas for
these crucial reminders

have to be protected
from the uncontrollable
urge of our proud men
demonstrating themselves
in public
(𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩em 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘯)
to paint the walls
in dominance and social status
with their personal apparatus

on the other hand
it’s a disgrace
for two lovers
to hold hands willingly
or kiss in their moments
of being together merrily
the eyes of all the
watchkeepers of society
seem to be targeted
at their contentment
to tear them apart
with their stares and remarks
packed with insults and labels

while a woman
whispering about her pain
asking her companions to check
her dress for any red spots
has to run to the washroom
hiding her “weapon” in a bag or paper
so no one hears about her pain
so nobody sees her revelation
for just being a woman.

two sides of 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳

a time in the year of warmer days
𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 isn’t merely a season
but a cycle of emotions
an exploration of precarious omens

for some, this wondrous change
in the weather may be a curse
for others, this dominance
of the sun god may be a blessing

in one land, the temperature is sweet
the earth blooms with flowers and greenery
where the vacation sites are occupied from
bathing under the golden glimmers

while miles away, the ground boils like hell
the air gets loaded with cries and hunger
the scorching heat takes over all beings
as the water deity strives to protect her babies

for generations, through countless seasons
𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 has been biased
she has made lives, she has uprooted homes
and still, she continues to discriminate
between her sole world.

the shadow from hell

there is a shadow
of no real, physical form
dark, hidden, powerful
unable to be seen or touched
like a moon during a lunar eclipse
it wanders around
through the walls and doors
to the streets and corners
it travels with us
to keep a watch on us
to keep a tap on our deeds
compiling all our wrongdoings
like a force of nature
it waits for the perfect moment
to take us on a ride to its world
and make us pay for our brutalities
it comes with several names and layers
some say it’s the land of sins
some say it’s the abode of the damned
some say it’s the world of hades
for us— it’s 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭
the shadow reckons and knows
what will be our fate
to be granted free or doomed for eternity.

Bani K

Bani expresses herself as a creator, as it encompasses her love for creating different forms of art like poetry, writing, visual arts, and dance. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Psychology and is a Mental Health Advocate. For Bani, writing poems is like holding a mirror to her inner and outer tides. She does not believe in keeping any regrets and is trying her best to continue shattering the odds. She has her three E’s constantly accompanying and motivating her: Explore, Experiment, and Experience. She is building her place at her own pace.