I learned how to be hip from girls who sat at dhabas –

It was 2018; I was nothing and no one,

And shudh desi leftism was still a dream the kids had.

I waded through the decay of urban Pakistan -

The waterless boat basin -

In my white platform boots.

I was not the only girl who figured out life so.

This is the manifesto of hip woman

Who ate the apple, and risked jihad

Baadalon se giri, bijli ki tarhan

Bazaar-e-aam main — afwah uthi

Ye kesi mystical saazish hai!

Issey dewaar main chunwa diya jaye

Jahanpana! Shehenshah:

My only weapon is my poetry.

When your soldiers visit the marketplace

Encroachment notice and batons in hand

I see them at the gate,

While in the midst of my dance —

I am not a dancer so I entertain children.

Meanwhile, jesters, poets, and ustads

Grace the King’s colony!

For my own safety,

I am not invited.

Hip woman is:

She’s got the law cowered

Her gait relaxed, magnificent night suit chic

Fists up, she raises a new independence slogan:

Yeh jo dehshatgardi hai,

Isske peeche wardi hai.

How everything is metaphor!

Last Friday, when I dressed up as girl

I bruised myself to win a race

Now, it hurts to be teased and caressed

Waisay masoom banti hun magar pata hai mujhey —

Hot boys are dangerous to me

This is not the first time I have hurt myself so.

To be woman and hip:

Is to be okay not being woman at all,

To be unafraid of androgyny

Allow yourself all the ugly of humanity

I am maila like my city.

Meri shalwar key paainchon per

Meri mitti ka daagh hai:

The beggar’s pleading,

My daddy’s corruption

Let the truth slap the princess out of me

For to not be woman and hip

Is to be dream deferred, girl interrupted.

Aik naya pollution metric propose karti hun:

Khwabon ki kirchian kitnay gigaton carbon emit karti hain?

When they make a liar out of a girl,

I want you to kill me as tribute.