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Also titled, A Billet-Doux. In this poem, the author narrates how her idea of love has changed over the years, from sweet nothings to everyday actions that matter.
When I was sixteen,
I received love letters
From a boy who thought
Life would be better
If I were by his side
Today, I’m 41.
And no, I’m not married
to that boy or any other
My idea of a love letter
has changed over time
I think of a love letter
As not a promise with words
But the actions of a devoted husband
Who shows his wife what love means
By waking up at dawn to cook her meals,
To take her to the hospital when she’s ill
And be with her through thick and thin
In the way he drives 20 miles
To pick up something of hers he left behind
A man who stays through all the fights
And doesn’t keep one foot at the door
Is so much more genuine than one
Who promises the world through his words
But retreats when push comes to shove
I guess I have grown up and seen the world
To understand the finer nuances of love
That makes its presence felt
Without penning a single word.
Image via Unsplash
Aishwariya Laxmi is a writer, editor, blogger, and poet living in suburban Chennai, India. She blogs on https://aishwariyalaxmi.com/ and has a newsletter at https://ash.fambase.com/. Her poems and flash fiction have read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
It is shameful that in today's world too, women are abused and even killed for giving birth to a girl, and the infant's life is also of no value.
Trigger Warning: This deals with domestic violence, suicide, and violence against women, and may be triggering to survivors.
I am so glad that the esteemed courts are now giving the much-required verdicts regarding certain ideologies that were not at all entertained earlier. I mean we all have studied this much biology at our school level and it is our duty (our generation) to educate our elders about it.
Why someone have to lose a life to bring such awareness to the society. Delhi High Court gave this judgement concerning a case that filed by the deceased daughter’s parents against her in-laws. She committed suicide as she was harassed and tortured for dowry and giving birth to two daughters.
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