If only beneath my burka

by Yakari Gabriel   Mar 7, 2012


They say,
that you can take everything
away from a human being,
except its will.

so it may me surprising
to hear that,
I lost mine as soon
as it was confirmed
that there wasn't a
little mountain
resting between my legs.

..I bet my mother wept
that day,
for her, for me, and
for the destiny that won't
be chosen by neither of us

there's a big gap
in the legal system,
it was meant for my rights
but ever since
it was decided that I
I had a price

its been there,
waiting like an anxious
bride, looking at
the clock and crushing
the flowers like glass
between her hands.

if only beneath my burka,
I still felt pride
for being a woman..

if only beneath my burka,
I still thought,
and dreamed of love

but rejection
from he who bought me,
was far more painful
than putting myself
on fire, in hope of
reaching the finish line
of my misery.

I hope they bury me
in his backyard, one day

so my casket hits him
in the face
when the earth throws
it back up

because even dirt,
can't stand the taste of
injustice.

-----------

this poem was inspired by my article for a Spanish oral exam today,it was about the rising problem in Afghanistan, Women are sold to man to get married at tender ages, and when the man decides to not want them anymore they would rather put themselves on fire and die than walk around with the shame or go back to their families..some try to escape and are thrown in prison, it got so extreme that woman aren't allowed to work or go to school either nor go out of the house without being accompanied by a man in the family.
in 2001 the USA tried to send the military there
help these women, but there was no luck..
eleven years later and the women of Afghanistan are still there suffering, forgotten.
people who try to do things for these woman,
live under death threads..

it breaks my heart to think that even in 2012
we still have such absurdity going on in this world, that we can produce ipods, and phone's and plasma tv's but can't end slavery..

Burka* is the clothing Islam woman wear,
the one that only shows the eyes,it may seem unfair that they have to wear that, but really
that's the least to worry about, there problem goes deeper.

..oh, I got a 9.3 by the way.

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Latest Comments

  • 12 years ago

    by Sunshine

    I loved what this poem was about. I love awareness poems. I believe that although it was about something that should bring attention to us it just doesn't seem to bring me into the poem fully. I dont quite feel captured in it.

  • 12 years ago

    by ROSE

    Yaki, your poem shoot my heart too effing deep.
    i can't believe that until now there's something like that going on. :( you've open my mind much more than i used to.

  • 12 years ago

    by Lioness

    Yaki,

    I saw this poem and I so had to vote and comment.

    This poem shows so much of how you feel about the issue as much as the issue itself which is awesome. I, personally, hate the idea of people and animals being mistreated. The idea of injustice to any man, woman or child just gets me in a furious state of mind. I have heard a lot about the way woman get treated over there and it is heartbreaking. No one should be forced to do anything they don't want to, no one should be sold to anyone because no one should own us. That is so degrading to anyone who is in that situation. I don't care what religion someone, what they look like, sexual orientation, race or anything like that. I just look at the actions the person takes and how they treat others.

    This poem has really touched me and I have learnt a lot from it as well. I love the meaning behind it and what you are trying to achieve by writing this poem.

    I hope one day that things can change and maybe a simple step is doing what you're doing and spreading the word of injustice which happens in every country.

    I would definitely like to use my last nomination and would love to see this poem win.

    Awesome job

    x

  • 12 years ago

    by Tara Kay

    Yaki, I can't help but cry when I read this, it is such a sad world in which we live, and the way others live around the world is heartbreaking and more should be done, we are blind to the suffering of others for we are merely caught up in ourselves and too frightened to make a stand.

    You wrote this with deep emotion, imagery that was vivid and almost shocking to the mind but that was the thing that drew me in.

    The use of "mountain between my legs" is an awesome and creative way of describing a mother's fear when she gives birth to a girl, knowing how she will grow up.

    This was original, I don't think I've read a piece touching on this subject, or at least not one with this level of perfection.

    love
    xxx

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