Battle Hardened Poem by Tribhawan Kaul

Battle Hardened
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We, the women with lot of resistance
Can't be cowed by your persistence.

You demand sacrifices form our men folk
Forgetting, we are not far behind to take the yoke.

We fight side by side whenever you strike
In kitchens yet we keep the flames burning bright.

Country looks up to us to serve and die
Perceiving us weaklings is now a far cry.

Baton is passed to us by legendary past
Moulded in toughness we are in cast.

For peace our men fight at the front?
But oh...WAR! we only have to face the brunt.

"What you do to us", it has to be realised
Winner or loser, we only get brutalised

Pain, anguish, longing take its toll
Impact on mental and physical strength is not small.

Subject of subjugation, exploitation and humiliation
Burying our kids who die of starvation

Do you understand magnitude of our sufferings?
You Brute, refugees we become in our own dwellings.

A game for warlords and you play in their hands
Testing their wares infusing adrenaline in their glands

Like dogs you allow them to fight for territories
Thrusting upon us insurmountable calamities

Women in war suffer the most
Victorious yet raise bloody toast

We pray, you to be guillotined before raising your head
Peace, love, compassion and service then be our bread.
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All rights reserved/Tribhawan Kaul