In the heart of a land where rivers entwine,

A common woman carves her line.

Her days begin before the dawn,

To face a world both ruthless and drawn.

In crowded bazaars, she weaves her way,

Carrying burdens of another day.

Her hands bear calluses, her spirit strains,

Yet her soul endures through life’s domains.

The whispers of judgment cloud her path,

The weight of traditions’ silent wrath.

Yet in her gaze, a fire glows,

Defying norms, her courage shows.

A teacher molding futures bright,

A seamstress working late at night.

In factories, fields, and homes she stands,

Building the nation with her hands.

Her dreams are vast as the open sky,

Unfolding wings, she dares to fly.

Through storms that rage and winds that roar,

She charts her course to distant shores.

Though the world may push her to the ground,

Her strength is quiet, her will profound.

For every barrier in her way,

She finds the courage to stay and stay.

She faces hardships with a steady stride,

Her dignity intact, her heart her guide.

In her struggle, she finds her song,

Her voice a beacon when things go wrong.

To the woman in the village, the woman in the town,

The one in the uniform, the one in the gown.

You carry the stories of countless years,

Through trials, triumphs, laughter, and tears.

Resilience defines the steps you take,

A world anew with each stride you make.

The common woman, so often unseen,

Holds the power to shape what might have been.

So rise again, each time you fall,

Stand unyielding, proud, and tall.

For in your spirit, a nation lives,

Through every challenge, strength it gives. HH

The writer is qualified with an MS degree from NUST, has served as the Associate Editor to the NUST Journal (NJIPS). She is currently working as Sub-Editor at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad. 
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