Life is a struggle, But she rises

Life is a struggle, a journey of strife,
But for a woman, it’s a battle for life.
Born into a world that once called her a curse,
Her worth was questioned, her value rehearsed.

Yet times have changed, a shift in the tide,
A wave of support where love and pride reside.
But shadows still linger, dark and deep,
As brutal acts make our hearts weep.

Why is her survival seen as a threat?
Why is she feared, and why is she met
With hunger that strips away her soul,
As men seek power, their control the goal?

Why can’t a man see a woman as more,
A human being with dreams to explore?
Why can’t he see her as an equal part,
Not just an object to tear apart?

Being a woman doesn’t mean she’s for pleasure,
Her spirit, her mind, are treasures to measure.
If she stands firm and won’t give in,
Do you use your strength to commit a sin?

Does being male mean seeking only gain,
In a world where pleasure is another’s pain?
Is the ability to choose right from wrong
Buried deep where darkness is strong?

Is it her presence in a field you claim,
That drives you to crush her rising flame?
Does her success make you insecure,
So you push her back, lock the door?

Does her courage make you fear your place,
So you try to erase her from the race?
Is her dream, her ambition, her only sin,
That she dared to succeed where you couldn’t win?

But let me tell you, she won’t be confined,
Her spirit won’t break, her resolve won’t unwind.
She’ll rise above the hate and the lies,
With every scar, she’ll touch the skies.

And to the parents who fear for their girl,
Know that she’s strong, a force in this world.
Teach her to fight, to stand and to speak,
For her voice is the power that the weak seek.

Let’s raise our sons to honor and protect,
To see every woman with love and respect.
For the future is bright when we stand side by side,
In a world where no one needs to hide.

Seema Bhatnagar