By Yaso Manaswini
We were silent, they thought us weak
We were shy, they thought us meek.
We forgot what we had, as women
We forgot what we had to seek.
We resisted, they thought us inviting,
We screamed, they thought us arousing
We forgot what we had, as women
We forgot when we could be fighting.
We opposed, they thought us defiant,
We surrendered, they thought us compliant
We forgot what we had, as women.
We forgot where to be self-reliant.
We served, they thought us delightful
We complained, they thought us prideful
We forgot what we had, as women.
We forgot how we needn’t be frightful.
We suggested, they thought us meddlesome
We improvised, they thought us troublesome
We forgot what we had, as women
We forgot why we were once fearsome.