The Tree Climber

नये नये शब्द, शब्दों का दरिया और दरिया में डूबती मैं

बेटी बेटी बेटी

चाँद सी कोमल, फूलों सी प्यारी, परियों सी न्यारी

हाय हाय बेटी बाहर ना जाओ

चाँद सा रंग काला ना पड़ जाये

हाय हाय इतने सवाल ना पूछो

पढ़ पढ़ के आंखें ना जल जाएँ

चलो माँ की परछाईं हो जाओ

तुम्हें भी तो मां बनना होगा

When I was little I climbed trees with my cousin brothers, since we lived together as one extended family. I made my feet dirty, and climbed the trees no matter what I was wearing,  because I didn't know little girls were supposed to be proper. I think those days with my brothers put in the foundation to not care, while other girls my age were very “well behaved”. Eventually gender stereotypes did creep on me, and it is then that my tree adventures came to a halt. This particular tree in the painting was a mulberry tree in my backyard with branches just right for my little legs to climb. I am actually wearing a dress from one of my childhood photos that was later passed on to my younger siblings.