A perception of South Asian women has lingered
That they are inherently submissive, naive, hidden from the world behind dupattas and burkas
But I look to the women of my bloodline who arrived before me
Audacious, uncompromising, unbearable to the men who don’t want to hear them
Bold looks, big dreams, words armed with wit
It’s dangerous
Some will try and bring you down to earth where they want you to belong
But you are flying, dazzling, undefeated
Your mother brought you and my mother to a cold strange land for a better life
And as your necklace rests on my chest I remember
To never compromise, to never bow my head in submission, to be free
As we laid you to rest, the birds were flying above
And I just knew
You were flying with them
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