beyond/pain

one day the
pain will stop
ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮಕ್ಕಳು ನೋವು ತಿನ್ನಬೇಕಂತೆ
at dawn
ಬೆಳಕಾಯಿತು
her ankle bells will tingle
as she takes them off
and the silver toe rings
all shining like the moonlight
ಚಂದ್ರ ಮಾಮಾ ಬಾ ಬಾ
only a black bangle
remains
as she leaves
everything
behind

setting free her dear ones, her love, her dreams
ಮಂಗಳಂ ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳಂ

barefoot
she merges with the trees
the cold stones
the warm earth
the soft green grass

the blue sky