A mad peak time dash to the tube,
A burst of rain leaving her sopping wet.
Yet a rough hand dared creep up her shirt.
Momentary shock. Blistering fury.
It could have been me.
.
A relaxing walk after dinner to unwind,
A silent song of the crickets escorting her,
Yet two more limbs preyed on her footsteps.
Engulfing panic. Anguished prayers.
It could have been me.
.
A social visit full of happy celebrations,
A volley of laughs and drinks kept revolving,
Yet a once fatherly pat became a groping touch.
Sickening grief. Perpetual distrust.
It could have been me.
.
A daunting desk held her dreams together,
A review that threatened to drown it all down,
Yet roving eyes at her cleavage made a proposal.
Shrinking confidence. Appalling disgust.
It could have been me.
.
A weekend getaway promising delights,
A cabin in the woods offering warm solace.
Yet a cordial neighbor turned brutal predator.
Excruciating agony. Numbing senses.
It could have been me.
.
A sacred vow of seven lifetimes together,
A rainbow of dreams seeded for the future,
Yet the trusted husband forced himself upon her,
Devastating heartbreak. Shattered bonds.
It could have been me.
A poem based on true stories – mine and countless other women. This was in reaction to the comments put forth by the Delhi rape convict two days back, “A girl is more responsible for rape than a boy…” Sickening!
An Armchair Perfectionist 
Every such instance puts an ugly blotch on the face of humanity.
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It surely is Neeraj. A stinging slap
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Powerful and well timed reminder
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Thank you Ruby!
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Expressive and intense.
Nice one Prajakta 🙂
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Thanks Amrit 🙂
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Your poem paints a true picture with sad colours of black blue and grey. When will our landscape turn colourful and verdant?
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Kalpana, that is a question which I hope does not stay rhetoric! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
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Great poem about a heartbreaking subject that needs to be told.
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Thank you Edwina! Women’s Day approaches afterall!
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Yes, well it was very powerful.
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Compelling poem.
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Thank you!
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The parallel structure and refrain work so well–the strength of many voices together.
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Thank you Jennifer!
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I was going to say what Jen said. Such a precise refrain. If you haven’t seen Ever Mainard’s “Here’s your rape” standup bit, it’s worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29ArdxWYBGQ
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Thank you for stopping by. I have not seen the video – thank you for sharing it!
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Very powerful – and the story of so many women. I look forward to future posts.
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Thank you for your thoughts!
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Power punch writing Prajakta.
Keep going great!
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Thank you Ira!
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as a father of two daughters – this was really powerful for me.
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I can understand. My father feels the same for me and my sister.
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a father always wants the best for his girls
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The way you can even think in ways of taking what is never offered in such a devastating ways.. I hate when you have to put limits on yourself.. a sickening world we live in.
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And extremely scary. A simple walk is not just simple anymore!
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Very powerful poem. The refrain really brings home the message that women are still prey for abusive men. It’s appalling that anyone would think women are to blame for rape! Thank you for writing this.
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Thank you for stopping by. The state as you rightly said, is appaling!
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And it isn’t just India. When a woman is raped here in the US, still, it is her history that goes on trial – what was she wearing? had she had sex before with someone else? What did she say? It seems it is always the women at fault and has been since the beginning of time. There are so many of us who have been brutalized in any or more of the verses you wrote. Powerful poem indeed.
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You nailed it. The questions are always directed towards her! This mindset is dangerous…
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That rapist’s quote is sickening. Blaming the victim. Argh. Your poem is powerful, and true, and each of those instances could be and is every girl and woman, at some time in her life. There is anoither quote, Alice Walker, “It is not safe to be a girl child in a world of men.” Fantastic write.
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“In a world of men…” So much for Women’s Day?? Thank you for your response and sharing the quote Sherry!
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Your repetition echoes effectively bringing power into each given scenario…well written, Prajakta and important topic.
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Thank you Hannah!
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I read that report and was disgusted with it ~ It could have been anyone of us ~ thanks for your powerful voice ~
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Thank you Grace… I am now going to watch the “banned” documentary too.
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Such a powerful piece. The last two lines of each stanza are so striking! One never wants to believe it could be one’s self; yet, the truth is, it could be anyone. And most often it is by someone you know or trust. I think this is something everyone needs to read.
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It always happens to the people in the newspaper… never us. What a sad and wrong perception we used to live in. Thank you Renada for sharing your views.
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Beautifully written. It angers me that there are so many shameless men out there, that misuse their place of respect and trust.
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Thank you… It is truly a misuse as you put it.
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This really hit home. I could add my own stanza to this poem, but not today. Thanks for having the courage to write this. Peace, Linda
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Thank you Linda… Do share your own stanza if and when you do.
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So very sickening. No wonder so many women choose not to testify against their rapist. And the thought that it could have been any of us really brings it home. Good use of repetition.
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Thanks Victoria… The society has made the women feel ashamed. Very sickening!
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Reblogged this on seraphictruth.
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Thank you Hajra for the reblog…
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Oh my God! This was as if you spoke my heart out and so much beautifully!!
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Thank you Parul!
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Stunning.
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Thank you.
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To all those who shame and deny: It could have been me. It could have been you. It could have been your sister, mother, child or wife. Powerful and important writing. Great job!
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Thank you JoAnne…
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Just great writing!
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Thank you!
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Thank you for speaking up about this through the medium of poetry which by the way is very well written.
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I saw this now – very late. Thank you for your words.
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Better late than never 😊
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