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(Theme: Portrait of a Lady)Â
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Tongs & HerÂ
Her tiny fingers glide Â
across the ironÂ
brand newÂ
undiscoveredÂ
on the floorÂ
beside the stoveÂ
she picks the tongsÂ
claps its edgesÂ
claps her handsÂ
once, twice, thriceÂ
the mere metal invites her her eyes gaze sharplyÂ
her pupils bulgeÂ
she hearsÂ
the sound of ironÂ
the sound of innocence.Â
Her dainty fingers outline words on a pageÂ
words with powerÂ
a sinless charmÂ
opening gatesÂ
exposing pathwaysÂ
merrily calling to take a stroll
the tongs butÂ
cloak the pageÂ
wreck the dreamÂ
mutilate the desireÂ
she picks the tongsÂ
claps the edgesÂ
claps her handsÂ
once, twice, thriceÂ
she conforms toÂ
the sound of ironÂ
the sound of a restrained youth.Â
Her fingers, now brittle and bent are shelter to ash hairÂ
preyed on by the hourÂ
her youth has been sweptÂ
lost at seaÂ
succumbedÂ
collapsed in agonyÂ
she picks the tongsÂ
claps the edgesÂ
claps her handsÂ
once, twice, thriceÂ
she mindlessly servesÂ
but the iron soon rustsÂ
it produces a soundÂ
the sound of silence.Â
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By Vaidehi Gupta, for the Trans Solidarity Fundraiser