Cruel jokey?

The frail woman in gown was red with anger

It was an outrage on the self respect of women.

Her client, a victim of rape, turned pale as queried

Of the defense counsel smacked scorn and insult.

But the learned judge didn’t intervene as law demands

Clear evidence to see that no innocent gets punished.

Sister, course of justice is hard to foresee!

You might not have heard this piece of story:

The farmer came rushing club in his hand,

the donkey ran limping out of the field.

Enraged washer-man kicked at the navel;

long wail of farmer’s wife was heard, she swooned.

Story tells of King’s verdict just and wise:

‘The farmer shall carry dirty clothes for

washer-man till donkey’s broken leg is healed.

The dhobi shall impregnate farmer’s wife

Out of whose womb he aborted foetus:’

In life and so in fiction women are

Subjected to insult, humiliation.

It’s not a cruel joke; I mean no offense.

(Image: Draupadi as humiliated in Virata's durbar. Source: Wikimedia)