I still remember the day
father gave me away
To whoever could lift the holy bow and string it.
Because what is a woman if not a prize to be won?
To satisfy her man and give him a son?
So before my breasts began to sag
I was given to a man to brag
And that is how I met my lover.
The way he looked into my eyes had me hypnotized.
The ring was on my hand, and I was wedded to his land
I had dreams in my eyes of happiness in our lives
But all of that was broken
The Queen had spoken.
She banished my lover to live among trees and stone
For fourteen years, all alone.
But I couldn’t leave him.
For what is a woman if not a dutiful wife?
Following her husband through the hardships of life.
So we spent thirteen years in a cottage
Until the day I was taken a hostage.
And I still loved my lover.
I thought I was helping a priest
But it turned out to be a beast who abducted me
He wanted revenge on my lover for humiliating his sister.
So he captured me to get back at my mister.
I cried and cried and cried in vain
Until a thought visited my brain
What is a woman if not an instrument of war?
The honour of a man until she’s a whore.
The beast took me to his golden palace
And offered me a million riches
But I refused to be one of his bitches.
I counted the days and saw the seasons change
As I witnessed the beast’s thirsty gaze
I awaited my lover and sang in his praise.
After months of waiting, I heard the trees whisper
My lover dialogued with the beast
But he wasn’t a listener
And soon enough there were battle cries
Bodies lost on both sides.
My lover managed to slay the demon
But refused to change what he believed in.
Before the flying chariot took off the runway,
He stopped me and asked me if him I had betrayed.
He used the flame to test my loyalty
After all, he was royalty.
So I let the flame engulf me to prove my chastity
If I were guilty, the flames would kill me
But the flames were warm and soft and filled me
with enough fire to fight every single man who questioned me.
For what is a woman if not a possession?
Who may get corrupted and ruin a man’s impression?
And yet I loved my lover.
We went back to the kingdom, my lover to his throne
The people welcomed him, but it was him alone.
My abduction was known, and away I was thrown
The seeds of hate had already been sown.
My lover couldn’t accept me to be his wife
And so I left him and his perfect life.
I cried and cried and cried in pain.
Until a thought crept in my brain.
What is a woman if not a wife?
Does she even deserve a life?
And as I birthed my children two
I plunged into my mother’s womb
The earth opened its arms wide
To embrace me at the end of this life.
And even then I loved my lover.
Ariana Gupta is a freshman majoring in Design at the School of Visual Arts. She is a voracious reader and has published a children’s book, New Age Fairy Tales. She has also delivered a TEDx talk titled “Why We Should Teach Children Feminism.” Feminism is a big part of her art and she wishes to continue fighting the patriarchy through her work.