The Seething City


The seething city's grimy warren of cages,
is journey's end for women and children
trafficked to the trade for sex, day and night.
To be hawked and sold beneath slavers' eyes,
and passed from foul, corrupted hand to hand,
to suffer their bodies’ auction in silence.

I witnessed the truth of that silence.
When through the barred and curtained gates of cages,
reached the gaudy, perfumed and grasping hands
of women, of girls and boys—of children,
beckoning, cajoling me with pleading eyes,
to rent and use them as I chose that night.

Without custom, they’d not earn that night,
but suffer behind their veil of silence.
Fear betrayed their gayly painted eyes,
for if they displeased the madam of the cages,
she would break the spirit of those children
held firm in bondage by her cruel hands.

Their lives but a travesty in her hands,
torn from their innocence by day and night.
Who will protect those women, those children,
while law and politicians stand in silence?
What chance do they have in those putrid cages,
when you and I close our sightless eyes?

For we chose not to see, yet we all have eyes,
We offered no help but sat on our hands.
If it was us condemned to those cages,
to suffer rape by the people of the night,
we would yearn to lift our veil of silence,
and live our lives freely as children.

For God's sake, prey not on women or children,
have some compassion and open your eyes.
Break not the woman or child but the silence,
and lead them into daylight by the hands.
Free them from the indentures of the night,
to live their lives in homes, not fetid cages.

Care for our children with gentle hands;
With watchful eyes, protect them from the night;
Embrace them with laughter, not silence and cages!
Location: Mumbai, India

Comments

Inquisitive Eastender said…
Again, fantastic imagery. But you have painted a picture of somewhere I would only visit in nightmares
25 July 2024 at 12:10
Simon Beechinor said…
Yes, it was bit grim for a 16 year old... I went back there two years later and thought it was worse than the first time. I could get in a taxi and flee... they could not.
25 July 2024 at 16:24
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