In which Sara uses poetry to undo stereotypes that run through our society — raw, naked and unabashedly so.
Aberrations
When she held him in her arms
Out of her womb
He smiled.
Sunshine across a face that was learning to breathe.
Curly eyelashes.
Rosy Cheeks.
Beautiful. Tender.
The stars would blush.
Every time he dreamt of the fairy tales
His mother put him to sleep with.
Prodigy.
He could weave the colourful threads.
No wonder he fathomed
The intricacies of emotions.
Balls of yarn.
A melange of pink, purple and red.
Bats of needles.
Strength of patience
Absolutely no pretence.
He would cry like it was blessing to express.
A perfect girl.
An unsuitable boy.
Masculinity, he always wondered,
Would be so much happier,
If he could talk about how he too dreamt of being a father.
Sara Sethia is a Research Associate (Gender Justice) at One Future Collective.
Illustration by Priyanshi Vakharia