Broken Pieces

I have a ceramic doll -

A girl in red frock,

With wide open arms and feet in the air

Literally flying "up above the world so high”

Everyday I wake up and take her in my palm,

I tell to her -

Do you even know how beautiful you are,

With no chains tied to your feet or heart

With no burden of how the world look at you

Or how to answer your kith and kin

For every deed you do!

No one ever judges you;

Indeed, you are so beautiful the way you are!

Everyday I also wake up to the yelling of my mom:

Are you not ashamed of yourself?

It's 7 O'Clock in the morning

Still you are in the bed

See your neighbour, she is 5 years younger to you;

She is a mom of two children;

She manages the home so well;

At the age of 35, you are still not married;

How shamelessly you are living your life

You are not even worthy of being a woman!

I breathe out a huge sigh

And put together the broken pieces

Of my hope and love to start the routine!