A women-centric protest poem, by Dr. Roopali, exclusively for Different Truths.

If you cut off a woman’s tongue 
like they did the other day 
in that dusty dirty town of Hathras
in India then at the dead of night you must
incinerate whatever remains of her. 
Her broken spine, her lacerated vagina
and her mutilated soul. 
 
In another age Greek King Tereus of Thrace 
also, could not contain his lust 
and ravished and violated Philomela
she won’t be silent she had said
so, with pincers he held her tongue 
and with a sharp sword 
he cut off her tongue.
 
Philomela’s anguish did
not hold back her story 
her aching fingers wove an intricate tapestry
unfolding a tale with images telling
Just like poets tell our stories.
 
A stunned avenging sister Procne 
cooked and served in an ornate dish
a depraved dinner fit for a King 
their only son Ity’s flesh
a father and a rapist husband  
King Tereus of Thrace.
The head paraded for proof 
silenced forever the 
raging perpetrator.
The voiceless nightingale granted 
a voice to lament Philomela’s sorrow.
 
Will the many gods of our people 
 let us write our legends?
can we tell our tales?
How else will the soulful chronicles be told 
of Antiope, Hera, Europa and Leda 
Medusa, Draupadi and Sita,
Hannah, Regina, Jyoti and Shaheena 
all ravaged, mutilated and morphed
by Zeus, Poseidon, Duryodhana and Ravana
Jean clad Sandeep, Herbert Mike and Mirza.
 
Must we then like Procne 
avenge feed the flesh 
of sons to fathers.

Visual by Different Truths

Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur

Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur is a poet, travel writer, and social justice activist. A former professor of English Literature at Delhi University, and a creative writing professor at IGNOU, she is a widely published academic and creative writer. Her book Twice Colonised: Women in African Literature, is a seminal text on women’s socio-political empowerment. In 2020-21, she co-edited two poetry anthologies – In All the Spaces: Diverse Voices in Global Women’s Poetry, and Earth Fire Water Wind.