On Sundays, A Portrait Of The Husband And The Wife

This simple poem will really make you wonder at the lopsided division of chores in most homes even today!

It is Sunday tomorrow

he plans to sleep till late in the morning

there is just one day for rest

‘don’t disturb’; the children are already given the warning

She too is feeling a little relaxed

as there will be no office hurry

cupboards are stacked with dirty clothes

so, she plans to do the laundry

He takes pleasure

in having bed tea with newspaper

news, articles, and feature

replete with all information and knowledge treasure

She will clean the house

and remove all the clutter

it is her resolve on holidays

to make the house tidy and better

He is planning to have a sunbath this Sunday

the sun is shining pleasantly bright

eating groundnuts soaking in the sun

what a delight! what a delight!

The sun goes down the horizon

by the time she is free

She forgets her body’s need of Vitamin D

in her cleaning and washing spree

He is planning to watch the new film

brought last night

made by his favorite director on his favorite subject

Indian society and women’s plight

It is a holiday so

children have refused to eat chapatti and curry

she is already in the kitchen

cooking veg manchurian with gravy

Her hands are busy chopping onions

When the little baby does poo

he screams seated on the sofa

oh dear! please see, where are you?

She cleans the shit and makes fried rice

everybody licks their fingers

saying the whole meal is perfect

tasty, wonderful, very nice

She thinks of asking him to make her a cup of tea

much needed in winters to work and survive

but he is dressed up

all set to go on a long drive

He comes late in the night

full of excitement

shows her the photos clicked

and slips in the blanket

After a long hectic day

she plans to read something at night

but he is extremely tired and wants to sleep

so she silently switches off the light

First published at author’s blog.

Meetu Mathur Badhwar

I am a self-believer who stands for equality and justice in every walk of

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