An Iranian Woman..

I like it when the wind blows in my hair
I like to dance without a care
I like to dress up and like what I wear
I like to live life now and here

You like me covered head to toe
You like to see that you want me to show
You set the parameters for my life
Now I tell you that is not right

If you get aroused looking at my hair
Stop looking my way while I am here
My spirit is free and so is my hair
Stop me if you can, to you I dare

I like some colour on my dress
Not to show you or to impress
My pure soul can not bless
The black veiled regress

I want my share of sunshine
I want my world bright
I’ll burn your dark regime
If that only will bring light

Tear gas shell marked my breast
On which, one day my children will rest
I’ll tell them stories of women brave
Who fought for freedom and got grave

Mahsa Amini and Hadees Najafi
Minoo Majidi and Sarina Esmailzadeh
Our sacrifices will not go in vain
The brave girls will be born again

You can drag us, chop, shoot n slay
Free young women are here to stay
Stories will travel from tombs to wombs
Freedom will return to Iran one day.

——a poem by Mridual Prabhaa