POETRY

Never Taught To Be Human

We’re failing as parents, as teachers, and as a society

Never taught consent, but dress codes but gender roles.

Never taught to speak up, but to endure but to be submissive.

Never taught humor borders, but ‘harmless jokes’ but normalized remarks.

Never taught to be righteous, but religious but conventional.

Never taught to be sensitive, but degrading but belittling.

Never taught liberation, but societal norms but whataboutery.

Why do we not teach to be human, not a man not a woman.

©Arundhati Thakur 2020