Adultery? Poem by PADMINI DUTTA SHARMA

©Adultery?

Blood drooped profusely
Her veins had been slashed
With a sharp knife
Suspected of adultery.

Her husband lay in bed
Since last many years
No one paid any heed
They all disdained her pride
That never succumbed to greed.

There was not a morsel of food
No shillings for medicine
Yet she chose not to deviate.

She maintained composure and discipline
After repeatedly being treated like a mannequin
And now they say it’s all so clandestine!

She was all by herself
Slogging day and night
Everyone knew her plight
The brave girl gave every onlooker
A tough and bold fight.

She sought work at different places
Where she found many deranged faces
Desire, passion and lust
Did not allow her to retain even the crust.

Poor soul succumbed to her fate
The vultures made merry at her flesh
It was difficult at first
Gradually she learnt the tricks of the trade.

While her paralytic husband lay semi conscious
Her lovers paid for all that was lascivious
She earned every farthing by strangling her soul
But there was one that loved her most
Genuinely and truly
Standing by her foolishly
Convinced that wasn’t adultery.
Padmini Dutta Sharma