Feminine Enough

Like temple bells,

the house reverberates

with giggles

of two little kids.

Not mandatory,

but if you want,

having children

is one pinnacle of femininity,

wouldn’t you agree?

But more than once

my spouse has told me,

“You are not feminine.”

Why? Well—

I don’t grow my hair long,

don’t wear cosmetics,

not a single piece ornament

on my torso.

I don’t take anyone’s

permission, manipulation.

I argue if needed,

know my rights.

I do art, read, write

expose society's blights.

I am not religious,

except for my devotion to nature.

I forgive him,

for he is only parroting

what society tells him

femininity is.

Alas, many women who do,

all those feminine things,

are battling infertility.

With lack of awareness,

on body and mind,

some have messed up,

so much so that

marriage is falling apart,

sickness knocking at the door,

on mental-health pills.

Coming from

patriarchy-soaked in india,

what does he know

what femininity is?

He will say wrong of course.

He has seen women in

his family,

with vermillion and veils,

anklets, and bangles.

nodding to their men,

just to avoid confrontation,

and not to be punished.

Resisting exploitation,

temptation too,

feeling empathy, showing kindness,

forgiving when needed,

building own life,

nurturing others too,

that is feminine to me,

which I have enough,

no need of anybody's validations.