For the International Day Against Violence Against Women, I’m sharing some song lyrics for “The Lotus.”

Please enjoy.

Alabaster white bud
Rooted in the mud
Waters from the flood
A lotus
Fragrance like perfumes
Petals like bird plumes
Tenderly she blooms
The lotus

Little sister, you’ll be alright
Just turn your face to the light
Roots in the mud mean you’ll grow just right
Little lotus

Emerging gently
Acquiescently
We gaze intently
At the lotus
Sweetly the earth sings
From the silted spring
Through it is a flourishing
Lotus

Little sister you’ll be okay
Turn your face to the light of day
You need roots in the mud to grow the right way
Little lotus