Through this intense poem we learn of Aekta's journey of the abuse and acceptance of her body.
tongue—I learnt the bitter taste
of brutal beatings
passage of saliva helped me
swallow a b u s e
(gulp)
the wall of my teeth, gated
it opened to only chew
I didn’t know how to
mouth the word—a b u s e d
(gulp)
lips—soft, fragile flesh
soaked in saliva, blood
they said that I bite myself,
unknowingly
I felt the word—r o u t i n e
plaster my skin, pierce my flesh
I bit a bar of bathroom soap
thought its scent would cleanse my mouth
while my body bred buds of bruises
I learnt the subtle difference
between shaking and shivering
some woman called me v i c t i m
(gulp.)
I learnt alphabets when his fingers
laced my body,
words when I was called names
gulp,
;
gulped.
Elderly persons called my flesh body a piece of art
A young man spat to my face
hung the tag—little red rotting hood over my breasts
his strong arms over my shoulders
in bed,
I
grew.
grown, full bodied, unarmed,
…
now I tear more, chew less
bite, spit; swallow less.
Imitation is an off spring of art-
I b e a t the most.
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