You call it resilience?
It is a mountain laid on my back,
Too heavy to carry,
Weakening all my limbs,
Bending my shoulders,
With aching bones,
Yet I wear it as a shield!

You call it peace?
The muffled voices of abuse,
The venom your words poured into my soul,
I can’t spit it,
Believing it as a potion of love,
I mixed it within my blood,
Made it bitter,
Yet I can’t offer you a sip of what you offered me!

You call it respect?
I wore this heaviest iron crown with pride,
It is like a cage over my thoughts,
Blindfolded me,
Undoubtedly the agonizing honour,
Yet I can’t make a successor for it,

Many of us- each passing day,
Breath in,
Unsaid words prick our hearts,
The love bombing we feel,
The clutter of some souls we collect and decorate our souls within
Like pricey crystals,
Stitched in our flesh,
Yet we smile and look brave!
We, the women!