For you…2 min read

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Mannat Budhiraja

Class 7

Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

I’m writing this to be my voice, 
And the voice of those yet to come. 
The songs and tunes that our daughters 
Have tried to sing for centuries. 
But those fade away without an ending. 
Or their notes are heard  
But never listened to. 
The notes sung by those daughters 
Whose skin is made up of 
Every shade of brown, 
By those who wear a hijab 
And cover their heads 
For those whom English is a second language, 
For those who are forced into child marriage, 
For those who crouch in war torn countries, 
For those who are deprived of education, 
For those who hug the shore as refugees, 
For those expected to do housework and marry, 
But never educate. 
For those who are made to feel 
Alone, 
Discarded, 
Differentiated, 
Discriminated, 
Unworthy, 
Weird, 
Afraid, 
Useless, 
I’m singing for you, 
When your notes aren’t heard. 
I’m singing for you, 
No matter what. 
I’m a girl just like you. 
I’m aware of what I have, 
That so many others don’t. 
I’m aware as I sit here 
And every minute of the day, 
I’m singing for you, 
Carrying the message far and wide. 
You may be on the other side of the world, 
Or closer than I expect, 
Just remember in your most hopeless moments, 
That I’m singing for you. 
Letting my voice carry across emotions, 
Your fear and your pain, 
I’m letting my voice blend, 
With the ones who sung centuries ago. 
My voice fearless, high and low 
To every girl who feels like this out there, 
Know I’m singing for you.

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