[*inspired by the amazing women of Prajwala)]
a long time ago before the rains began
my mother so wanted to give me the chances she never had
sent me from home to work in the children’s ward
she didn’t know it wasn’t the children they wanted my service for
there’s a world beyond this leveling field I’m on
and the wonder will come but for now my song is sung
underground
they come for the love, they come with compliments
they come with a hunger satisfied only with handfuls of innocence
sometimes I run, sometimes I gratify
sometimes I hum the golden refrain of my grandmother’s lullaby
there’s a world beyond this leveling field I’m on
and the wonder will come but for now my song is sung
the lost will be found
the handmaiden crowned
the tender vine without a stake to curl around
is still growing, still growing
underground
a long time ago before the rains began
I left my home and everything I could understand
there’s a world beyond this leveling field I’m on
and the wonder will come but for now my song is sung
underground