A Nation’s Veil of Silence

In shadows deep, where echoes dwell,  

A tale unfolds, too grim to tell;  

For women tread on fragile ground,  

In every heartbeat, terror's found.  

A man may walk with head held high,  

Oblivious to the silent cry;  

Yet women weave a tapestry,  

Of fears that haunt, of what could be.  

Each day a calculus of dread,  

A phantom threat that fills the head;  

In public spaces, eyes surveil,  

While whispers swirl—a ghostly gale.  

The morning news—a chilling refrain,  

Another name etched in the pain;  

A stranger’s plight, yet close to home,  

For every woman knows she roams.  

In homes once sanctuaries of peace,  

The specter looms, the terror won’t cease;  

With keys poised like daggers in hand,  

We navigate this treacherous land.  

The laughter shared is laced with fear,  

A masquerade we must adhere;  

For in the gaze of men who smile,  

Lurks the potential for the vile.  

And yet we rise, though weary and worn,  

In a world where innocence is torn;  

We smile at men through veils of dread,  

While deep within, the anguish spreads.  

Is freedom merely a hollow phrase,  

When every dawn brings fresh malaise?  

For still we ask, with hearts laid bare:  

Is our nation truly free? Do we dare?