Rape Law Scares. Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

Parties know each other;
Parties are of letters;
Parties are in friendship;
If they slip to have sex,
Could it be held a rape?
Could a feeble no spelt,
More from guilt consciousness
Or out of modesty,
Be denial of consent?
Unless disparity
In age and position
Warrant, it is not so.
A claim of rape can be
An afterthought action
For woman's face saving
From her impulsive act.
Still it can be a rape
If man has overreached
Or advanced forcefully
Provided she comes out
With a complaint so soon.
Man fears to love woman
From the scare of rape law.
Woman fears to like man
From the scare of embrace.
Love read in literature
Is not imitable in life.
11.10.2017