HERStory

Through the ages, women have served as a looking glass, a companion, a mirror; is it surprising that Jane Austen’s intelligent women had trouble finding men they could love?

One of the top 5 entries for November’s Muse of the Month writing theme, with the cue “The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”  from Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.

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It was Genesis time

crafted from your rib

you god’s own image

me a mere ‘auxiliary companion’

Dear man, the glory all yours

the blame all mine

I was the temptress

the bringer of misfortunes

and you the Hero

you were the

legendary son of Ayodhya

the ideal man for all times

and yet, a king first

your glorious tale

lives on centuries later

because chastity is always only

a wife’s belt

the test by fire

only for me

In a no-choice polyandry

I was the wife

of five gallant men

polygamous all

my owners by default?

conveniently lost me

in a game of dice

What was I?

in your victory- a prize

in your defeat a price

I was Snowwhite or Cinderella

always waiting to be rescued

my only chance at a future

charming you

The Perfect Prince Charming

who knew the spotless skin

the perfect hair, the narrow waist

would be an industry someday

and me just a product

on display

all of this remains “HIStory”

Antigone, Medea, Pandora

Kekayi, Ahalya, Menaka

Helen and Cleopatra

painted black

by male hands

the only colour

for women

all pseudonyms were mine

or I chose anonymous

all the rooms in art, philosophy,

discourse,films, media

already taken

Woolf, Plath, Dickinson

Sexton, Akhmatova

in every century

looking for

A room of one’s own

Dear Jane was right

when she said,

“The more I know of the world,

the more I am convinced

that I shall never see a man

whom I can really love.

I require so much!”

Adam & Eve image via Shutterstock

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