Red as red can be

Dedicated to all victims of abuse irrespective of gender, age, caste, class, religion and country.

Bound by chains of propriety

Of sublime chastity

Of purity

as pristine as the waters of the Gangotri

How could I reveal this blemish on my café skin

That left a mark on my soul as dark as sin

The wrath of the fury incurred

Left me all but shattered

Can you now forgive me

For not opening this cupboard

Of my dark past.

Their fingers still browse my body

Making me feel like some cheap commodity

Up for sale, cheap bargain

Oh, am I really going insane?

I hear the voices whispering and screaming

Telling me they know me inside out

That no one knows every cell in my body as do they

And I should only follow their bidding every way

The white walls here are stark reminders

of how pure childhood innocence used to be

but came those devils with arrogant quivers

to pierce and color me red as red can be.

Do you hear them telling me

The world is not such a good place to be

That mom and dad pretend to love me

Siblings and friends change moods with time

That my love is soon going to be history?