Red Light District
Mumbai, India
Doorway after doorway
Women are everywhere
Sitting, looking, waiting
Every man is a “next customer”
Every glance is an opportunity
Every smile can bring in money
Men walk up and down the street
What do they see?
Do they see the smiles and catch the glances?
Do they know the names of the women?
A veiled woman
Waiting for someone to come to her
Not because she is loved by him
But because she is wanted in a moment
For one night
Only one night
Her name is whispered in secret conversations
Her value is solely in what she offers
Her beauty is no deeper than the make-up she wears for enticement
Her home is a sketchy street or dark corner
Her children are unwanted
Her embrace is false
Her words are lies
Her perfume is poison
Her eyes are shallow
Her heart is calloused
She does not love because she is not loved
But then again
I believe in a kingdom these men don’t see
I understand the jealous love of a King
A King that sees these women as more than one night
A veiled woman
Waiting for her Lover to come to her
Not because she is needed for something
But because she is loved
Her name is Beloved, and it is sung over her
Her value is in her identity as a daughter of a Holy King
Her beauty isn’t seen on the outside, it is experienced through life
Her home is a priceless treasure surrounded by light
Her children are treasures
Her embrace is reserved for her true Lover
Her words carry truth
Her perfume is a good name, given to her by Her Father
Her eyes carry a deep, peaceful love
Her heart is broken, but pure
She loves greatly, because she is loved greatly
What do people see when they look at you?
Truth is, you aren’t your failures
You aren’t your past
You’re not even your present
You’re something much greater than that
You just have to choose to see it
“Who is this coming up from the desert leaning on her lover?” Song of Songs 8:5
“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench this love; rivers cannot wash it away.” Song of Songs 8:6-7
“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20
Mumbai, India
Doorway after doorway
Women are everywhere
Sitting, looking, waiting
Every man is a “next customer”
Every glance is an opportunity
Every smile can bring in money
Men walk up and down the street
What do they see?
Do they see the smiles and catch the glances?
Do they know the names of the women?
A veiled woman
Waiting for someone to come to her
Not because she is loved by him
But because she is wanted in a moment
For one night
Only one night
Her name is whispered in secret conversations
Her value is solely in what she offers
Her beauty is no deeper than the make-up she wears for enticement
Her home is a sketchy street or dark corner
Her children are unwanted
Her embrace is false
Her words are lies
Her perfume is poison
Her eyes are shallow
Her heart is calloused
She does not love because she is not loved
But then again
I believe in a kingdom these men don’t see
I understand the jealous love of a King
A King that sees these women as more than one night
A veiled woman
Waiting for her Lover to come to her
Not because she is needed for something
But because she is loved
Her name is Beloved, and it is sung over her
Her value is in her identity as a daughter of a Holy King
Her beauty isn’t seen on the outside, it is experienced through life
Her home is a priceless treasure surrounded by light
Her children are treasures
Her embrace is reserved for her true Lover
Her words carry truth
Her perfume is a good name, given to her by Her Father
Her eyes carry a deep, peaceful love
Her heart is broken, but pure
She loves greatly, because she is loved greatly
What do people see when they look at you?
Truth is, you aren’t your failures
You aren’t your past
You’re not even your present
You’re something much greater than that
You just have to choose to see it
“Who is this coming up from the desert leaning on her lover?” Song of Songs 8:5
“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench this love; rivers cannot wash it away.” Song of Songs 8:6-7
“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20
