What happens when we commodify and perfect beauty? It ceases to be human and is transformed into a mannequin, says Harinder, in this poem – exclusively for Different Truths.

She was born a moon-faced doll,
And grew up into a maiden tall
Everyone around her made a great fuss
And she grew up picture-perfect, thus
She was taught to walk with grace
She used a beauty scrub on the face
She was not given the freedom
To go alone to the mart
And a planned diet was made for her
According to the diet chart
She was asked to smile in a particular way
And given instructions night and day
Even if a lock of hair dared to touch her white skin

It was punished and caught in a hairpin
The mirror would call out her name
It longed to have a good look at her
While she looked at herself in its frame
Over time, she looked like
A painting on the wall
Cold, heartless!  She wouldn’t respond to a call
She had feeling organs but on a silent mode
And she had become as stiff as the cardboard
She was delicate and thin with a perfect chin
A lady who wanted to live like a woman
But it was reduced to just a Mannequin.  

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Harinder Cheema

Harinder Cheema is a renowned poetess and an internationally published author. Her novel, 'The Temple Stop' received 'The Best Book of the Year Award 2020' by Aghaaz, Author in You. She is the co-author of 17 poetry anthologies. Her short stories have been published in the coffee table books. Her articles have been published in various international magazines, and she has also received many prestigious honours and awards in the field of literature.

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