Being Belindas (a response to Pope's Rape of the Lock) The mirror hangs before me My long face stares back at me a pointed chin whose rounding I dread A tiny forehead gleaned from the thick mass of black hair surrounding it. At the black hair now streaked with red I oscillate between fascination and nostalgia The hair, mostly helter-skelter sometimes, precise in a bun A glazed eyeball with its bit of plastic-glas lens A newly pierced nose-- a shade too large showing off that li'l bit of green My ears trying to seek attention with their multiple studs and rings which I regard as pets And a moody mouth. but on the whole, a face I can live with. My skin the colour of burnt caramel a thin, supple body I am unashamedly in love with. Bottles and vials lined in an array on the slab beside me the daily ritual of cleansing, toning, conditioning the creams and the perfumes the chief kohl that lines my eyes the earrings in their silver box the cupboard with its greater assortment of clothes than i could ever wear the occupational hazards of being a young girl. Oh Pope, and other misogynists! We love being Belindas and Belindas we shall remain with our bottles and our vials our bibles and our billet doux and we rebel against rapes of our locks and otherwise. our bodies and their vagaries and tricks we play with them are ours. And not playthings or objects for your phallus or that inglorious phallic symbol your pen. *** Almost Rape “bhaiya, is this the rajiv chowk metro?” “yes, take the next metro that comes” “ok, thank you” “do you live here?” “No, I just came to visit someone” “I work here, in the metro” “ok” “in the metro bathroon, come with me, I'll show you the bathroom” “I can't! The metro comes in 2mins now” “so what? It will come again soon. Let me show you the bathroom” “I can't! I have a very long journey ahead. I can't possibly waste time and go with you.” “Madam, the metro is very quick and fast, your journey will not be long. Come with me to the bathroom, please come with me to the bathroom......”