Agni's Petition

2.5 Lakhs-

but she brought just two.

And now her eyes were black

and flesh was blue.

She stood naked

in the kitchen hall.

They draped her

in a kerosene shawl,

summoned me

with an Alladin matchbox,

and wrapped me

around her damp skin.

But I could not see her pain,

I opened my flaming heart

and took her in.

Today, the newspaper says

that she was careless and I

leaked out of the gas stove

and took her life.

Author notes

Agni is the god of fire...this is a poem against dowry. every day, women are beaten and even killed for not paying their husbands and in-laws a dowry.
they are burnt to death and their death is labeled as an accident in the kitchen.

A contest entry

1 hour contest - closes in 1 hour by Tangled Angle. 300 points, ended November 24, 2007, 14 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest

Please tell me what you think

Comments

By me, right now

Adding your comment:
Laura Lamarca
November 24, 2007
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Too many people suffer in this world on a daily basis, far too many
Tangled Angle
November 24, 2007

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Interesting- yet awful. Dang. That's really.. wow. There are some crazy people in this world.. Sheesh.
grannyeri
November 23, 2007
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This is terrible - did not know this still existed in today's modern world. So many live in the past, and do not want the present to be part of their lives, or their future wive's lives anyway. Very educational, and sad poem you write in these lines. Liked the background you chose for this poem - very fitting.
- Raazi
  November 23, 2007
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  Thanks. And yes, it's an everyday affair kind of thing in our part of the world at least. Tragic, isn't it?