'Books are a man's best friend'

And for her, they were
till she was inconsiderate
of what was seeping in.
As she grew up
she was made to develop
comradeship with
the needle
and the spices
and the washing soap.
Books she saw
only at her brother's desk.
Later, she was sold
in a bizarre market
where give and take was odd.
Where the seller
was also the payer.
Customer satisfaction , however,
is a difficult promise to keep.
When she tried comprehending
the enigma
of the ensnaring trade
her voice was cut out
by the roarings of other animals.
That worldly matters are not her concern
declared her in-laws.
That wisdom tags itself along
only with the college degree
declared her brothers.
She understood
that superiority was granted
only to her folks
and sensed rightly that
decision making
wasnt her right.

'Books are a man's best friend'
Her daughter alteredthe quotation
to make them
a woman's best friend too.
As she grew up
her comradeship developed
with Marx
and Luther
and Literature.
When she was brought
in the same old market
with the thickest of make-up
and the shiniest of attires
and the gradest of sums
to make her
the best pick,
she protested.
Her voice was cut out
by the roarings of other animals.
That she reads impractical stuff
declared her neighbours.
That books do not mirror reality
declared her father.
The repetition of history had occurred
its just that
she couldnt understand how
her folks had the right
to overpower her
and why
the decision making
wasn't her right.