Ode to Womanhood

Ode to Womanhood

Woman, you are strong.
Never forget to stand tall.

Your womb is your pride,
your mind, your might,
your compassion, your strength,
your sexuality, a weapon.

You are Durga.
You are Kali, Kunti, and Radharani.
You are Apsara, Surpanakha, and Hidimbi.

In every avatar,
you have unsettled men.

You are hated. Yet wanted.
You are suppressed. But also worshipped, loved, and respected.

No matter what, you will always be needed.

Needed for comfort.
Needed to satiate lust.
Needed to procreate.
Needed for civilization to last.

Men come to you in many forms:

Father, grandfather, uncle,
lover, husband, son,  boss and brother.

Some value you; some undervalue you.

No matter what,
you transcend all roles
and still stand tall.

You sustain. You nourish.
You make life flourish.

You nurture. You groom.
You sacrifice
for your children to bloom.

Despite all you give,

you sew, you sing.
You dance, you teach.

You are a doctor,
an actor,
a lawyer,
a governor.

You run companies,
businesses,
and countries.

You fight in battles
and fly aeroplanes.

You build roads
and bridges.

You paint, write stories,
and win medals.

You even beg,
clean drains,
pick rags—
to feed your children.

You were not born only to give,
but to dream,
to desire,
to create,
to speak.

You were born to fight
for what is your right,
to live.

Woman, you are strong.
Never forget to stand tall.