A love letter to my worries
It makes sense why you hold onto me so tight.
For so many brown-faced men,
violated my body’s rights
in moments when I was in my truest expression
my innocence, my playfulness, chasing my joy, happy even.
These assaults were so perfectly timed as crude and forceful reminders
for me to better not be at ease, ever, for taking birth in a woman’s body.
It makes sense, worry why you keep my body
in a state of panic all the time.
This desi colored pink tax - a birthday gift to
every woman that walks Bharat’s land
with deposits made before the age
she even knows her own pronoun.
It makes sense why you are here so often and loud.
It makes sense why to you men are alarming, people unsafe.
It all makes sense.
And you can stay for as long as you need.
Come as often as you need.
You have served me, protected me.
And now as I aim to thrive and fly high into the sky
In your clinging to me, I hug me back harder.
In your distress, I remind my body to breathe self love.
I am grateful for you my worry
for everytime you come,
you strengthen my resolve to
make all of me radically untamed.