My Body

A poem on how women, despite being objectified and having their agency held hostage, continue to find the strength to battle it out.

May 04 2020

A poem on how women, despite being objectified and having their agency held hostage, continue to find the strength to battle it out.

My body
A sum of parts
Lifeless under the gaze
That shreds and weighs.

My body
A work of art
Connoisseurs galore applaud
Seizing the canvas their reward.

My body
A mystery under wraps
Yet the gaze uncovers
For others to discover.

My body
A mere puppet
The gaze decides its worth
And its fate determined by birth.

My body
A soulless entity
For if its revolt can't be tamed
It becomes the one to be shamed.

Yet my body
A reservoir of untapped power
For I won't let it be defined by the gaze
My roar will clear the haze.

Mrinalini Kumar is a post graduate in Political Science from University of Delhi who finds solace in expression.

Featured image credit: Sasha Freemind/Unsplash

This article went live on May fifth, two thousand twenty, at zero minutes past twelve at night.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.

Make a contribution to Independent Journalism

Real journalism holds power accountable