Poetry: A Girl's Plight.......

By DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
Bangalore, India
January 23, 2016 9:28am CST
I wanted to be a doctor I was told I was off my rocker “Money is not grown on trees” “Who is going to pay your fees?” “We are saving for your brother” “Oh girl, you shouldn’t even bother” I wanted to join politics But was bludgeoned with critics “Are you sure that you are sane?” “You will bring your family shame” “This is not a girl’s profession” “You should work on your home lesson” I wanted to be an engineer And my family kicked into gear “This girl is turning houri” “It is time to arrange dowry” “We will find you a loving groom” “With whom you will make your home” I wanted to be someone But was discouraged pretty often Is my gender is to blame? For I never reached my aim I don’t get it to this date What for I need to compensate? Is that all is to my fate? I just wanted to be someone But was made to feel like a burden Poetry Original by Daljinder Kaur Note: This is my sad first attempt at poetry. Hope I made it alright.
48 people like this
47 responses
Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 16
You hope you made it alright? You certainly have, this is excellent. I would never have known that this was your first attempt. Not only is it a good poem, but it has a message. Are things still like that with regard to girls in your country?
14 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
23 Jan 16
Things have improved a lot but sadly there are still certain parts where this discrimination is still very much prevalent mostly in rural areas. It hurts me greatly when well-educated people are found to practice this discrimination. P. S. Thanks for the kind words. They are a great source of encouragement.
9 people like this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 16
@Daljinder I'll suggest this to a few people, it deserves a wider audience.
9 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
23 Jan 16
@jaboUK That's very nice of you and again thanks a lot. If not my creation but the message I wanted to convey does need a wider audience. Awareness needs to be spread about.
8 people like this
susan
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
23 Jan 16
Amazing.... I think you've done a brilliant job ... on a difficult subject .... and I hope it raises awareness, and perhaps even helps a Young woman who might be in a similar situation....
7 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
23 Jan 16
Thanks a lot for saying that and most importantly hoping for raising more awareness about such issue which shouldn't be an issue in the first place. God has created us and had treated us as equal. Who are we to go against Him? Who gave us the right to descriminate amongst His children? Here's hoping for a better future..
5 people like this
inertia4
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
23 Jan 16
This is a real good poem. I enjoyed this. It is sad though. I hate seeing people held down from their dreams.
6 people like this
inertia4
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
25 Jan 16
@Daljinder You're welcome. I think we all should have the opportunity to expand on our potential.
1 person likes this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
Yes it is sad. It is disheartening to see someone held down from their dreams especially when they have got so much potential. Thanks for liking it.
3 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
25 Jan 16
@inertia4 Yes that is very true. Who knows there might be a Einstein or a Newton you are suppressing? You wouldn't find out until you give them the chance.
2 people like this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (112979)
• El Paso, Texas
23 Jan 16
Here in the US we tried hard to end bias like this but it is a very hard road to travel and the resistance is sometimes overwhelming. I hope progress is made so that girls in the coming generations will have much better opportunities.
6 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
Yes the resistance is overwhelming. Not everyone is welcoming to the change and refuse the reforming needed. But at least we could try. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!
4 people like this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (112979)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Jan 16
You are welcome @Daljinder
2 people like this
pgn
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
23 Jan 16
A brilliant first-attempt, very good! A sad poem though.
7 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
23 Jan 16
Thanks for the compliment. Yeah it is a sad poem. I never intended to write any poetry since short stories or fiction is more my forte. One day I came upon a poem writing contest and it got me thinking. Then suddenly the lines started filling up in my head. I jotted them all down in my iphone notes and in couple of minutes this poem came to be. I never did submitted it to that contest since I was reluctant, for it being my very first attempt.
8 people like this
ElizabethWallace
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
23 Jan 16
Do not listen to those who dump on your dreams. Soar!
6 people like this
ElizabethWallace
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
24 Jan 16
@Daljinder Good luck finding what you are looking for.
3 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
Lol! And what take a dump on them instead? Lol! I wish that could be possible. It would surely be some way to teach prejudiced people a lesson. Thanks for your thoughts!!!
3 people like this
MysD
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
23 Jan 16
This beautiful and portrays so well how so many girls must be feeling at some point in their life. I hope that one daysthey will be equal but I fear that we have a lot longer to wait for that to happen
5 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
Yep the feeling those girls must have felt can't be put into words. We can only imagine. A lot has been done but still a lot needs to be done. Rome wasn't built in a day. This too wouldn't vanish in air in a day. Thanks for the kind words.
3 people like this
theSids
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
24 Jan 16
Thanks MysD for suggesting me this one. I would have avoided responding on this one despite being her (@Daljinder's) follower because it brings me some not so good memories, and somehow, I do avoid going back to the sad ones.
3 people like this
theSids
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
24 Jan 16
@Daljinder For all girls who face such problems - I do hope that you reach to the place where your achievements over shine your being a girl in such a family. Be someone who you always wanted to be.
3 people like this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (168327)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Jan 16
That is a sad wake up call. I hope others get a lot out of this. It really says a lot.
5 people like this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (168327)
• Boise, Idaho
24 Jan 16
@Daljinder ...I wish you well on it. Have you sent it out into the media much?
2 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
If this wakes up even a single person, I would feel my work well done and a true satisfaction deep in my heart. Thanks for the kind words.
3 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
25 Jan 16
@celticeagle No I haven't. Not sure how to either. This is where I had it shared.
3 people like this
Always smiling
@allknowing (137799)
• India
23 Jan 16
Your poem says it all and well written too. Things are looking slightly better these days though Wherever I am today it is only because of the encouragement I got from my husband. @Jabo - Thank you for suggesting this post to me.
4 people like this
Always smiling
@allknowing (137799)
• India
23 Jan 16
@jaboUK They did but we had financial constraints at that time.
4 people like this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 16
@allknowing You are welcome. So did your parents not support your ambitions?
3 people like this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 16
@allknowing That's different from what Daljinder is talking about here then, if it was a case of there not being enough money.
3 people like this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (51393)
• Canada
23 Jan 16
You did an amazing job here, what a wonderful poem. It brought a tear to my eye. I hope that you are not writing based on your own life.
5 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
23 Jan 16
Thanks for the praise. It is one of the issues close to my heart. And no the poem has no bearing on my life, far from it actually. I am blessed with a wonderful family who has given me everything that they could. I am grateful of them for that even though they regret somethings that they weren't able to do for me.
6 people like this
MysD
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
23 Jan 16
@Juliaacv I too feared that it might have been based on her personal life and I am pleased that I read these comments and that it is not
6 people like this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (51393)
• Canada
23 Jan 16
@Daljinder You are a very talented writer and I look forward to reading more of your wonderful poems. I feel better knowing that this poem wasn't based on your life. It sounds like you're from a loving family.
4 people like this
Catherine
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
25 Jan 16
This was a fantastic poem @Daljinder ! How unfair life sometimes is toward women. @jaboUK thank you for suggesting this discussion.
4 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
25 Jan 16
Life isn't but the feeble-minded people sure are. That is what has resulted into all theses issues. P. S. Thanks for the compliment...
4 people like this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 16
Well done that is a brilliant attempt. Quite a poignant poem too!
5 people like this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 16
@Daljinder I thought the dowry system had been outlawed although I understand it is still very much part of certain cultures which cripple some poorer people.
2 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
@garymarsh6 Yes it is outlawed and is punishable offence but some laws have holes. The new generation is very much intolerant of dowry system. But this practice is so deep rooted and had been in practice for so long that in some cultures it has become a tradition/ a kind of a ritual.
4 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
Is it wierd that I wasn't sad at all when I wrote this poem? It was like the words were already ingrained in my heart and were just waiting for me to pen them down. Maybe it was years of watching and observing things around me. There have been many incidents that had moved me. Maybe that is when these words took a life in itself. Thanks for the kind words
3 people like this
PaintsOnSlate
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
23 Jan 16
Jabo sent me and I'm so glad she did, your poem was haunting and sad. I hope a woman's place today is where ever she wants to be.
5 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
Yes that is my hope too. There are many good examples of women who had fought this discrimnation and made a big name for themselves. It is truly commendable. Thanks for the kind words..
3 people like this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (317238)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Jan 16
You did a good job with this poem about a girl's plight.
5 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
23 Jan 16
Thanks for that. I did try to bring up the issues dealt by a girl even in this new age unfortunately on the hands of her own family and society.
7 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
24 Jan 16
Beautiful poem and strong message. I wanted to be an architect, but University was supposed not to be a place for a "good girl", this happened in Italy in the late 60s. As you see, it's not only your country.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
1 Feb 16
@Daljinder No matter what the media want to transmit as message, women are still discriminated, in most of the countries.
2 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
1 Feb 16
@LadyDuck Tkanks for the compliment!! Sorry to hear about your dreams kind of sabotaged........Yeah I realize its just not my country or yours even......Its present all over the world....
3 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
1 Feb 16
@LadyDuck It doesn't matter whether you live in a Super power country or a third world country....the discrimination is STILL there.... Just a couple of days ago in ElizabethWallace's post she talked about a women paid half the money of her male counterpart for the same job. What would we call that??? Discrimination right??
3 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
24 Jan 16
This was an excellent first attempt. I caught myself saying this aloud to listen to the meter... I very rarely do that even with my own work! I do wish you had chosen a happier subject, but thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with me (us)! May I ask if the picture is also yours? Whoever drew it did very well, also!
3 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@Daljinder The words I said were well deserved, Dal. Hmmm... Would it be alright for me to shorten your name like that or is that not allowed? (I always recognize your name when I see it, but I can't remember it without seeing it. I believe I would remember the shorter version easily, if allowed?) When I write poetry, it comes to me like that sometimes, too. Usually it only takes a couple of minutes to write the poem, but then I can spend days, weeks or months polishing the poem until I am satisfied with it... and there have been a few that never leave my hand because I am still not satisfied with them. I saw the link listed at the bottom of the poem, but was unsure what I was reading on that page. I couldn't figure out if that was an artist's name or what. Sorry about that.
3 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
1 Feb 16
@DaddyEvil Thanks for the kind words!! I didn't deliberately choose the subject........Its just a sentence struck me and line after line came up and turned into this poetry....... Writing poetry is something I never imagined myself doing......writing short stories and fiction is more my thing....... I will make sure to write one on happy subject too if any inspiration struck me... No the picture is not mine. I had cited the source at the bottom of the poem..........I will do it here too... ankkutza.devianart.com
4 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
1 Feb 16
@DaddyEvil No worries about the link..It does seem like an artist name... You are so right about the poetry thing....The first three I wrote and posted here took only minutes while the forth one is giving me trouble......And its been four days already......still working on it... I don't mind shortening of my name. I know its a mouthful...... My friends call me :- DJ Dalia Dalu Dalji While I am 'Honey' for my parents and elders..... You can pick one I don't mind...
4 people like this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
24 Jan 16
Thank you @ Jabo for recommending it !
4 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
1 Feb 16
3 people like this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
24 Jan 16
This is a good poem about a sad subject
3 people like this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
24 Jan 16
@Daljinder I was lucky that my parents encouraged us all, though we did not have to pay for schooling
1 person likes this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
@Auntylou I hope everyone has parents like that coz I think parent's encouragement and support is enough to get you through difficult times and situations.
2 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
Yes the subject is sad and needs a lot of awareness about it. Thanks!!
2 people like this
Cynthia Owens
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
23 Jan 16
Things are getting better, but still need improvement. Well written.
4 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
Yes things are improving but still lot needs to be done to eradicate an issue that has been there from who knows how long???? Thanks for your thoughts!!!
2 people like this
paigea
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
23 Jan 16
Very well written. I am glad it doesn't reflect your family.
4 people like this
DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
24 Jan 16
No it doesn't reflect my family but it does many others that need to understand that girls are as much capable as the boys are. Thanks for the kind words!!
3 people like this