She Was Not Born a Boy

She was not born a boy... Afroze Ali Born to live, alive and kicking Yet, there was no rejoicing The little bundle was not a joy For she was not born a boy Gagged and choked quickly done They couldn’t handle another one Muffled, muted, stifled forever Silenced by the ones held most dear She wailed and moaned for her life But no one heard the sound of her cry (In some parts of India female infants are killed by their own family members particularly in the poor and rural areas as a girl child is considered to be a burden. This poem is for them and their cries which often go unheard.) For Michael J. Falotico's contest "Sounds Of a Cry"