A girl Born in patriarchal karnali skies
A girl of beauty, with innocent eyes
Her laughter used to vibrate melody through the pristine mountain air
Yet her fate was a shadow, heavy to bear.
At nine, her childhood was swept away
Obliged the culture of ray, married too late, the elder would say..
At fifteen my parents made me bride
Her groom, a stranger, cold and grim
Warmth of love foreign to him
At sixteen I was a mother and Bitten for the first time.
Reacalling her wedding garments so new
Unaware of the storm she’d soon live through
Red scales on her skin, bruises like ink
Each mark a story, each would made her sink.
His toxic progressive lust and his manhood was mad dog.
I was burden and his bad luck.
He is absent for the days and days.
Back with the rage
My life confined to a loveless cage
I remain his slave and do what he says.
His lust a predator, her freedom like husband prey,
Her dreams dissolved in the light of each day
He shows his love by painting me red,
I bow my head and warm his bed.
When his wallet is full I server no need, when he is broke, then I come cheap.
Now I am 22 but I look like 39
Accepted my fate, I thought I was fine.

Now old and tired, I, the once beautiful girl of Karnali, speak,
For the voiceless, the broken, the weak.
Through valleys and hills, I share my tale,
Of sorrow and strength that will not fail.

I had enough of crying, lying, and denying,
Beyond fighting and hiding, all that’s left is dying.
So, I tell young girls, ‘Be strong and free,
Don’t let your youth be lost to history.
Marriage can wait, let learning lead,
Carve a new path, plant a new seed.’

Now in my old age, my pain finds a cause,
To fight against harmful customs and laws.
The girl who cried now shines bright,
Turning her pain into guiding light.
Through her struggles, Suwa rose tall,
Reclaiming her life after the fall.
In Karnali’s winds, her spirit flies,
Her story now opens freedom’s skies.