Gender based violence - call for action
Violence can be categorized into social and personal bit
One can be going through a lot but can appear fit
Violence form can also be emotional psychological division
Putting forth my personal intake and vision
Emotional violence isn't visible to bare eyes
One can be burning within but outside be nice
I felt hurt when none of my relatives/ neighbours offered help for parents sake
Now any interaction in a family event seems very fake
Impact is such that meet up in any social invite
Interactions leads to overthinking all night
When parents then shared with me about their hurt and feeling
My soft heart was bruised and kept peeling
Those who have hurt them in anyway
Have caused me pain too someway
Psychological harm felt is gender neutral base
Intensity of hurt feels at same phase
My female relatives asking on why ' no child till now ' syllables
Male ones enquiring about my parents empty home status
When I was 10 years old , it was a transition shift
I too was a little girl expecting return gift
But when my aunt didn't give me the toy lame
Even when my mom got it for me it was never same
That emotional impact I still do have lately
The hatred towards my uncle for touching me inappropriately
On my not passing CA final exams I have been taunted so bad
The emotional damage is such that I felt like a failure and sad
Now I know it's just one exam and it's never too late to give try
But today even if I pass , I don't have parents to share this success but to cry
My teacher in grade 4 used to hit me in thighs and always keep me out of class
She was also one of the relatives who used to bad mouth me alas
She never knows how psychologically there was this strong impact
And only I know how I overcame these violence infact
I was beautiful chubby baby in my family flow
But I was always fat shamed and tried to feel low
As a child I was silent and had witness many form of violence
My innocent mind has been impacted in each sense
Even though I have outgrown all these phase
when I think about it I do feel I am slow in this healing race
when parents were alive these people didn't care to be kind
And now to comment on my personal stuff, daring they find
Gradually when I accept normalcy and try to achieve free of mind
I do understand that emotional balance is difficult to find
I have overwhelming emotions fuss
My healing is work in progress
I am strong to mitigate the trauma
With immense blessings of my paa and maa
I still do get emotionally triggered and feel sick
Each situation I do have an option to pick
I can either keep blaming for everything wrong
Or divert my mind into productive stuff listening to a nice song
A well organised routine is must to keep my mind sane
I accept my reality, work to be better , journal t
hem with no shame!!
✍️©️ Priyanka Kamath
1 April 2025
Review
Beautiful 😍 Your poem is a deeply powerful and courageous expression of resilience, self-awareness, and healing. It beautifully captures the unseen scars of emotional and psychological violence while highlighting the strength it takes to rise above them. The raw honesty in your words creates an intimate connection making us feel the weight of experiences and the depth of emotions. Despite the pain, your poem carries an undercurrent of hope, determination, and self-growth, reinforcing the importance of self-acceptance and perseverance. The way you emphasize healing as a journey, not a destination, adds an inspiring and relatable touch, reminding us that progress, no matter how slow, is still progress. Your ability to transform personal pain into a call for awareness and action is truly commendable, making this poem not just a reflection of past but also a beacon of strength for others who might relate.❤️❤️❤️