A treat for me

For me

I remember looking through travel catalogs

And dreaming of faraway lands

I tugged on my mother’s sleeve

“Mummy, Mummy, I’m going to go here and here.”

Showing her photos of oceans, mountains, and valleys in my hands

“That is nice, beta…

but travel after you’re married.

Those places are dangerous.”

My heart shattered

And my stomach dropped

Why is it that my whereabouts need to be known by some man?

tell your father where you’re going

tell your husband where you’re going

i’m not going to belong to my family

and then belong to a man

i’m going to those faraway lands for me

going to live my dreams for me

And only for me