Freedom, She Yearned

Freedom, she thought.

Did that really exist?

Freedom, she sighed.

Yes, because men would insist.

Freedom, she wondered.

When told to wear certain clothes.

Freedom, she grumbled.

When catcalled by men she loathed.

Freedom, she dreamed.

When told not to go out at night.

Freedom, she cried.

When she knew she didn’t have equal rights.

Freedom, she yelled.

When told to be seen and not heard.

Freedom, she spelled.

When told, for her, marriage was preferred.

Freedom, she begged.

When she heard the stories of other girls.

Freedom, she disagreed.

When a simple court case went in whirls.

Freedom, she yearned,

So, she would no longer be judged.

Freedom, she fought,

and she would not be easily budged.

-Akshaya Pai