Why, Father? Why?

By – Gayatri Agarwal

The first week was up,
You were so excited;
That month,
Lullabies were all you recited.
My mouth had now developed,
I thought
I was like your small gift in an envelope.

Month two was on the go,
Mom knew now my heart was to fully grow;
And it belonged to you all,
Including my elder bro.
It was all I had to give for now,
But little did I know;
My heart had now started beating slow.

Clasping those unformed arms & legs;
I realized,
The girl in me was not your pride.
Why Father? Why?
Couldn't you hear my mute cry?
Even before I could open my eyes,
you proved genders don’t equalize.
In my last breath,
all I do is wish you happiness,
Because showing no humanity is a sign only of weakness.