Every Day

ByThiruAbeywardena

It's women's day

today, they say.

But I am who I am...

every day.

Did they tell me

how to be a girl?

Did they tell me

to dip and twirl?

to knit and purl?

of diamonds and pearls?

Did they tell me

how to be a woman?

Did they tell me

"enough enthusiasm"?

to tame my passion?

Save it for confessional

And just be rational?

I missed the memo

and skipped the demo

but wrote my own,

home grown,

down to the bone.

"Don't do that,

don't do this;

be proper; Miss Priss.

Pep up, buck up,

don't muck up!

Buckle up

and just grow up!"

They said no;

I said yes.

What did they miss

In this thesis?

Happiness. Bliss.

Strength, free will-

to be dynamic or to be still.

Anger, sadness

kindness, tears.

Love, lust

rage and fears.

Desperation and desire;

devastation and despair.

Education, rejuvenation,

celebration, jubilation...

Emancipation

from persecution.

Woman = human.

It's women's day

today, they say.

But I am who I am

every day.

(This poem is written to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, a global campaign taking place from 25 November to 10 December. It was written by a member of the Kavithé Collective – a platform for socially and politically engaged writing by Sri Lankans across the world. For more information visit www.kavithecollective.com. Submit your own creative writing to [email protected].)