Stripped off of pride
brandished kohl
eviscerated to the bone
battered soul

But despite being in such
moment of despair
she didn’t sway
and she marched forward
collecting fringes of the fray

For she was broken not marred
chained not defeated
and with hope as her lone weapon
and grit as her ammunition
she roared
and soared like a squall
for she had nothing left
to lose at all

Copyright © Shantanu Baruah