Damned Poem by Shruti Das

It is nothing my girl,
nothing at all.
Only your tears
have been damned.
Your pleadings have been damned.
There are no takers
of your truth.
He is successfully selling
his devilry, his lies,
shouting over heads
in the marketplace.
My girl,
your innocence is damned
and protest is damned;
he is smacking his lips
under the heavy black whiskers
like the cat
stealing out of my kitchen.
Wipe your tears my girl
it is nothing at all.
Each droplet
bears a price
that you have to pay

My pockets are empty
my girl,
it is nothing at all.
He moves around in masks
smacking his lips with grins
and washing himself in the sun.
They follow him
unabashed
and shame you.
Your wounds have been damned
your welts remain to smart.

Fear not my girl,
fear not.
You are not
the only one damned.
It is nothing at all.