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The Pain That Never Goes Away: A Poem by Lalita Vaitheeswaran

No one knows my pain

Everything looks flowery, life spectacularly ornate

A plush opulent abode and a handsome mate

Chaperones and maids to cater to every sundry need

Varied tasty delicacies satiating every gluttony greed

Full of chivalrous etiquette well-dressed folks

Eloquently skillful well-mannered white collared blokes

Everything is perfect by word of the dictionary list

But there’s emptiness in me even in everyone’s amidst

I’m lonely and shrouded by pensiveness immense

Dominated by patriarchal egomaniacs’ un-remorseful arrogance

Prideful egotism to degrade and attack where my dignity dwells

Closed lips and tears arrested to tell others “All’s well”

No one knows my pain; I’m on my journey alone

The gloom, the misery and desolation are but my own!