The Veiled Sorrows Of Women

In a village of Punjab, in India's embrace,

A group of women in a field find their place.

Engaged in myriad activities with care,

Their colourful dresses painting the air.

At the centre, sits a bride to be, in vermillion attire,

Her quiet austerity, her spirit poised, her simplicity inspires.

Pale pink skin and profiled features refined,

She sits with open hands, with henna on her hand. 

Hands open, waiting for henna to dry,

She ponders her future with a tranquil sigh.

Loneliness surrounds her in vibrant attire,

As preparations for her marriage transpire.

A lady in reddish-brown plucks hibiscus blooms,

While the bride's profile shows inner gloom.

Restrictions forbid meeting the groom in advance,

Leaving her uncertain about love and its consequence.

Preparations abound for the forthcoming day,

But the would-be bride wears a lonely display.

She wonders, will he be kind and true,

Will their hearts find a love that's new?

In the silence of her thoughts, doubts arise,

Will he cherish her, or will love be disguised?

She yearns to know the depth of his affection,

To find solace in their shared connection.

A dog gathers by a striking hibiscus bush,

The mother plaits hair, a small girl observes the hush.

An elderly widow, draped in white, sits nearby,

Radiating sadness, as if she's lost her sky.

All the females gathered, sadness they share,

Worried for the bride, future unknown, unfair.

Pale green sky above, coral wall on horizon,

A backdrop of uncertainty that's arisen.

A pale green sky, a distant coral-coloured wall,

Widows carrying pitchers to the well, answering the call.

Enclosed by an olive-green hedge, grass of dull green,

Studded with tiny birds, a scene so serene.

Other women in the distance, fetching their own,

Symbolize the plight of the unprivileged, unknown.

Indian villagers, women burdened with despair,

A portrait of poverty, distress, and inequality they bear.

In this Indian village, the women's condition,

Tells a tale of sadness, deprivation and suppression.

But within their hearts, resilience still thrives,

Hoping for brighter futures, their spirits survive.

Their struggles tell a story of resilience and might,

As they navigate a world cloaked in societal plight.

They yearn for a tomorrow where equality will prevail,

Where their worth is recognized, and barriers will unveil.