Not Our Night Poem by Prabhakar Subramaniam

Is the night ours

If the day chases us

Even in sleep

And darkens our dreams

With our deepest fears?

Is the night ours

If it is day

On the other side

Asking questions

That brook no answers?

Is the night ours

If we want to go back

After all these years

And want to take

The turn we didn't take?

Is the night ours

If we cannot listen

To this song

First heard when

Just ten

And not be just ten again?

Is the night ours

If we cannot go for a walk

Unchaperoned in the moonlight

And not be set upon

By beasts in heat

And not blamed

For being woman

Or not being woman?