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 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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