Mizuki Dreams

She was a toddler,
cute and pink
Laughing and giggling,
too young to think

Along came a monster who silenced her forever
She ended her journey before her life began

At what age will she ever feel safe?

She was at school,
all bold and bright
Full of ideas,
full of light.

Everyone adored her;
she made them proud

One fatal afternoon,
she walked home alone
Her death was mourned;
the headlines called it
a national shame!

At what age will she ever feel safe?

She’s going to college;
She’s got big dreams
She is a student leader,
a fearless crusader

She spoke too loudly,
questioned too much,
She became what they called
“a problem to solve”.

One gun. Some goons.
A few videos.
Until, at last, she took her own life

At what age will she ever feel safe?

She’s married now,
with children of her own,
Homely and kind,
building a home.

She’s raising standards,
carrying scars across her back.
Her mother tells her to
adjust, suffer, and never talk back.

They called her a goddess:
Tolerant and dignified.
Then burned her in the kitchen
Like a ritual sacrifice.

At what age will she ever feel safe?

She’s career-focused,
independent, and ambitious.
Her tired eyes speak of prejudices battled
and glass ceilings broken;

She walked upon the shards
paving the road for her sisters everywhere.

Yet all it took was one last cab ride.
They found her pieces much later,
because she worked too late.

At what age will she ever feel safe?

She was a crone,
called an old hag and some more
Her wrinkles carried stories of pain,
violence, and gore

I’m old now, she sighed in deliverance
No more gazing, groping, or gagging for me

But little did she know, age is just a number
One rough night, a drunken savage came forth
Laughed aloud and beat her to death.

At what age will she ever feel safe?