Woman In India Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

The BEST bus slowed down on Kalanagar stop
On BKC main road in Mumbai.
There were some passengers waiting,
Two women and one man.
Man was middle-aged, and women much younger.

Since the World Bank assisted long, purple bus
Rolled towards the further end of bus shelter
And the bus was crowded, all the three moved
Towards the front entrance of the bus.

It could be seen no-one was getting off here.
I saw that the man was faster, and got in first.
Thereafter the two women got into the bus.

He could have easily waited and allowed
Or invited the women to go in first.
There was enough space inside, no queue
Or jostling crowd: the bus was halting.
And not rushing off.

I was thinking the Age of Chivalry is dead.
On the streets of Mumbai, and during office-going
Times, there was no chivalry any time
Deferring to women is not middle-class morality.

It is seen in the top and upper middle class
Mostly to lay ground for better relationship.
If enough time and chance were there,
It would lead to flirting to establish
An acquaintance and explore scope for an affair.

In another sense, it is good. We don not treat
Them as weaker vessels! No need to help them.
We are a free country. We believe in equality.
If she cannot run or manipulate to get in
It is her bad luck.

She should not have been born a woman,
Having done so, she has to go through this
Many believe it is her karma. The moving bus
Moves, she has to run and take her chance!

03-06-2013