Naked by Choice
She undresses it, very clumsily
A burden she carried reluctantly
Nothing compared to her marriage though
She wanted to take the blouse off
Since the punishing afternoon that tanned her skin
And made her sweat after an enduring day at work
Where saree was a compulsion
And so was not raising any voice against it
For them, saree prevented rape
It is what temples see fit to be worn
Did they ask gods what they want?
Gods want to see her in clothes that fit comfortably
And that is it. Full stop.
In fact, naked is the ideal apparel for gods
Like they had made us in the first place
But knowing how corrupt the society has become
They have to settle for the cloak
She wants to get rid of this saree
It has dust of the streets
And lust of men from work, from shops
From trial rooms at shopping malls
Who have fancy for her bra
O fab India!
And ladies who talk of her backless blouse
Behind her back
It has to be behind her back
Her carefully disclosing cleavage and deep neck
She tries to cover up her belly, smooth and gleaming
With the extra cloth of the saree
And put her hand to the breast when
She bends down to touch feet of the elderly
Her daughter, fourteen, has learned to do the same
However, she doesn't understand the purpose of concealing
And why doesn't her brother do it
Undressing the cotton from her body
After the day is done gives her more relief than
Putting on the perfect makeup
She feels relieved; the husband won't be home tonight
She didn't want Dushahsan to undress the saree for her
He wouldn't have stopped at saree
And she didn't feel like having forced intercourse
It is not rape, says Indian court
She can wear the night suit now
And no bra
Her breasts finally get to breathe
The daughter is asleep already
Who has learned when to sleep
She helps the son with his homework
And sets an alarm clock in his room
She is done being the alarm clock for fifteen years
She lets the lipstick on
The bed sheet is falling on the floor,
She doesn't mind
Tonight, she sleeps without the clothes on
But she goes to bed naked every day
Oh no, tonight is different
Tonight, she is naked by choice
-Gaurav Juyal
A burden she carried reluctantly
Nothing compared to her marriage though
She wanted to take the blouse off
Since the punishing afternoon that tanned her skin
And made her sweat after an enduring day at work
Where saree was a compulsion
And so was not raising any voice against it
For them, saree prevented rape
It is what temples see fit to be worn
Did they ask gods what they want?
Gods want to see her in clothes that fit comfortably
And that is it. Full stop.
In fact, naked is the ideal apparel for gods
Like they had made us in the first place
But knowing how corrupt the society has become
They have to settle for the cloak
She wants to get rid of this saree
It has dust of the streets
And lust of men from work, from shops
From trial rooms at shopping malls
Who have fancy for her bra
O fab India!
And ladies who talk of her backless blouse
Behind her back
It has to be behind her back
Her carefully disclosing cleavage and deep neck
She tries to cover up her belly, smooth and gleaming
With the extra cloth of the saree
And put her hand to the breast when
She bends down to touch feet of the elderly
Her daughter, fourteen, has learned to do the same
However, she doesn't understand the purpose of concealing
And why doesn't her brother do it
Undressing the cotton from her body
After the day is done gives her more relief than
Putting on the perfect makeup
She feels relieved; the husband won't be home tonight
She didn't want Dushahsan to undress the saree for her
He wouldn't have stopped at saree
And she didn't feel like having forced intercourse
It is not rape, says Indian court
She can wear the night suit now
And no bra
Her breasts finally get to breathe
The daughter is asleep already
Who has learned when to sleep
She helps the son with his homework
And sets an alarm clock in his room
She is done being the alarm clock for fifteen years
She lets the lipstick on
The bed sheet is falling on the floor,
She doesn't mind
Tonight, she sleeps without the clothes on
But she goes to bed naked every day
Oh no, tonight is different
Tonight, she is naked by choice
-Gaurav Juyal
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| Nude in a Black Arm Chair by Pablo Picasso |
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