{"id":1101,"date":"2024-03-20T11:42:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T11:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/?p=1101"},"modified":"2024-03-20T11:45:36","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T11:45:36","slug":"the-puppet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/the-puppet\/","title":{"rendered":"The Puppet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A set of poems by Manoja<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VOICELESS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a mouth and a teeth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes I use my tongue too<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My throat is beautiful<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet I have no voice of my own<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I am a puppet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppets are not supposed to speak<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am bound to be dumb!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FROM BIRTH<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was born<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alas.\u00a0 Beautiful melancholy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was labelled as an expenditure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any investment in me is going to give them a profit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppeteer\u2019s friends and family thought so…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Some loved me for what I was<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that was not enough to save me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am grateful to them for keeping me alive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They didn’t want me to cause any trouble and end my life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So they made me a puppet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A beautiful brainless puppet can be pulled by strings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I labelled myself as a woman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have been a puppet since birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VISION<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo by camilo jimenez<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Every life on this earth has eyes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was blessed with two eyes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can see everything<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I see everything happening to me and around too<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have to turn a blind eye<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I am a puppet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I may have eyes but the vision is not mine though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOWCASE DOLL<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a name<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone named me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is not a bad thing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wavy hair, piercings, anklets, jewels<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many things to wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who designed these for me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I don\u2019t follow these norms,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am not a woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anklets bind me down, jewels on my neck choke me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0And bangles cuff me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But these are my strings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a puppet, a showcase doll<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed for someone\u2019s pleasure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am at their disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MANIPULATION<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they want me to do<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have to laugh loudly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they want me to do it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have to cry silently<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they want me to play nice,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have to behave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a puppet manipulated by the puppeteer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOULLESS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo by Marek Piwnicki<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I am not me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have my own body which is well-dressed and decorated<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I show my face, everyone loves it and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I bring a smile to their faces<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From head to toe, I am worshipped and loved by all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They love my body<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a puppet which is soulless to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TROPHY<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will look very good in your arms<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I am the best, perfect one<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bestowed by beauty and wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am the one you wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You tried everything to acquire me, conquer me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At last, I became yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can show me proudly to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will laugh with you by appreciating me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some may envy you<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that, you will put me in your room back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A trophy is for pride and supposedly honour,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am your trophy puppet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

REAL<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real \u2013 It is a four-letter word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone says real is the best<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They love real things<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real things last meanwhile fake ones don\u2019t last<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But they didn\u2019t want the real me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am often wondering…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They like the fake smile I put on my face<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They love the small talk I make and the fake attitude I show in public<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That wasn\u2019t even real<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was not supposed to show my real me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I am a puppet,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t have to act like a human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ATTITUDE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are not the one who asks questions, you should not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are not allowed to ask<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the thing I often hear<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was told to listen and follow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because it is for my good,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you ask a question, you will suffer,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are sweet as a flower, you have to smile at everything and bear it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is your duty,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are a woman, you are like a flower <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flowers don\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My only question to you is, “Is it very convenient for you if I remain like this?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DOORS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are talking about my privileges<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am privileged<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I am privileged according to you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because you said so<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are doors you would never open for me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You say it is for my protection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My protection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a bluff!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is it is for your convenience<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am missing the door of opportunity that I never had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BLISS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have to do this<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is how you have to be<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is how everyone lives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have to be like them<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are talking about my life like you own it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But think you can own me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can own my body, not my mind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is my bliss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOULMATE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I saw her for the first time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked so beautiful<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can beat her on the stage<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shined like a star in the sky<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I felt a bang of envy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted to meet her, so went after her<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I saw her shedding tears alone in the room<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I understand why I am so intrigued by her<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is beautiful but broken<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is my fellow puppet and my soulmate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNTITLED<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am beautiful<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every inch of mine is filled with beauty and passion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some look at me differently<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I awaken something inside of them<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The desire is untitled<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A desire I am afraid to tell anyone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I am a baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NAKED FACE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I see you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am wondering\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who made you like this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You make me curious<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I held you in my hands,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to know your identity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I looked at your face, it was naked<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like a beautiful pottery,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A book without a front page<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am still wondering…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who made you lose your face?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am standing in front of the mirror and looking at my face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OUTGROWN<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo by Jeremy Bishop<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I am a tree<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a tree grown inside of the house<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am growing, keep on growing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I touched the roof, my branches started to break the windows<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They clipped my branches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I am still growing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can cut my branches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about the roots?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day they have to cut the tree or<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will break the entire house into pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BLOOM<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a rose plant in my garden<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It gave me beautiful flowers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My tiny bubble of happiness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day its rose leaves started to change colour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holes appeared on the leaves<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was really worried about it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it never stopped giving beautiful roses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a few months, it started to grow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I realized I could be like that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can revive myself too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MY STRINGS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My arms and legs are not my own<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I belong to them<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least that is what they think<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am wondering whether they will get tired or not<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They love to pull my strings continuously<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am their little toy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They use my strings to play with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FREEDOM<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone likes free things<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when I talk about getting free,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their mouths become tight-lipped<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will slap me with the words,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes with hand too<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppets are not allowed to ask about Freedom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like a horizon, it is unreachable for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT IF I AM LOST?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo by Viktor Forgacs<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t smile anymore<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply I can\u2019t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have changed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can see it clearly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am numb, I lost my armours and charm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People are asking me to laugh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I tried to smile at them, but something stuck<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I have even lost my fake smile<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a puppet, I am supposed to smile at them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHEN I MET A DOLL<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Someone new appeared in my life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0He is very handsome<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Everyone liked him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one asked him anything<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He can do whatever he wants, no questions asked of him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I looked at the doll, he could walk freely<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing tied him to stay<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why have to be tied like this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is so good about the doll?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I realized a doll was one of them<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like a snake in the grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PEACE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love nighttime<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stars and moon shine crazily<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nighttime is for me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My puppeteer sleeps at night<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would be in pain but free of strings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stare at the sky, it looks so serene<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It brings peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the poet<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Manoja hails from Tirupur and is a postgraduate in psychology and is also a Tamil literature graduate. She loves writing and has been actively writing for online sites like Pratilipi, Ezhilanbu Novels and Sagaptham. She now works at Dexter Academy.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Puppets are not allowed to ask about Freedom
\nLike a horizon, it is unreachable for me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1105,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[186,187,6],"tags":[189,188],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1101"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1101"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1110,"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1101\/revisions\/1110"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herstories.xyz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}