WHEN TEARS CRY

I know their stories cos they never ever left me,
I am always in their eyes, they hide me so deftly,

I accompanied Sita, when her chastity was tested on the pyre,
I witnessed all the Satis who sacrificed themselves on fire,

I have rolled down the cheeks of a mother delivering her baby in pain,
And also when she sees her newborn and relishes her gain,

I was with Laxmibai when she died bravely for freedom,
When Jesus was crucified, I stayed for many days with Maryam,

When they leave their parent’s home, I am a companion of every daughter,
I shine proudly through the eyes of the mother of every martyr,

Time and again, I found my way when I faced discrimination by society’s orthodox rules,
I even dripped out of happiness when Savitribai went to school,

The most tormenting have been the times when I come out of a rape victim’s eyes,
From eternity its happening, will someone come forward to stop it, is it that difficult to try,

They shed me with guilt, with humiliation, with shame,
Are you, Oh MAN, so coward a being, can’t take the culprits name?,

Are these powerful demons more powerful than humanity?
Or are you living in such a time that you’re left with no more dignity?