I am from long line of women who have walked alone …
From a land that smells of the blood of innocent people
From a people who have lost everything in war – sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers
From a people feeling hopeless
I am from long line of women who have walked alone
I am proud to be the daughter of a brave woman
Who never gave up and showed her children the right way
Who sacrificed herself,
Who in childhood slapped me once to remind me
How important it was to concentrate on my lessons
She was the best mother in the world
I am from long line of women who walked alone…
From a place where I could never hear what my heart told me
And I could only follow what family told me
From a place where I couldn’t express my wishes and I hid my hopes
Where I couldn’t support my rights and I had to accept
Where everybody said
You can’t do it
You can’t go ahead; you can’t achieve your goal
I am from a place where girls are exchanged for money and forced to marry
Where I was humiliated for being for a quiet girl
Where a teacher told me, “I don’t care what you think
Because you can’t do anything.”
I am from a discouraging world that killed my talent because I was girl
I am from long line of women who have walked alone…
From women who failed many times in different situations
I lost my confidence when I lost my mother
Feeling alone without her guidance and losing hope
Feeling afraid to gain knowledge in case there is no freedom
From a culture where girls never see the outside
Sitting in a cage like birds who don’t know how to fly
When my mother leaves me, she tells me—
“Find your way. I cannot always be with you.”
She passed on the responsibility to me.
I am from long line of women who have walked alone…
I know now how to enter society
And find my answers though I’m alone
Learn from my experience though I have failed many times
I never give up
I find my way and learn nothing is impossible to achieve
I ignore those things that destroy my mind
I learn that no one can help me except me
I accept reality and I’m ready to face any problem
Now I have ambition to achieve my goal
To help my people bring peace to the next generation
I am from long line women who have walked alone…
By Shogofa
Thank you for sharing this poem with us, Shogofa. I feel like I still feel the slap on my face, as if your mother was my own! You create a haunting, powerful image of the singular woman, persevering against restrictions and obstacles. I am deeply moved by this. I hope that today, and many more days to come, you won’t feel so alone. That you will feel the love of your family, the love of the angels, and the love of us readers following your next steps.
Strong words beautifully expressed that remind me that without such strength passed on to you by the women who came before you and taught you, there would be no possibility of peace or civility.
A moving, hopeful tribute to the women who came before you. The pictures you painted with your words are very clear to me — from the slap of your loving mother to the teacher in the classroom bullying a shy girl. The images will stay with me. Stellar writing.
Your strength shines through your words, clearly.
You come from a long line of strong women.
moving, brilliant.
may women emulate your courage and strength, you come from a line of strong and courageous women.
thank you for sharing your poetry. you are strong. this poem brought tears to my eyes.
I read strength, strength, strength..Remember you are never alone. I may be distanced in miles but in heart I am close.
Your poem is breathtaking … it’s full with sincerity, feeling, truth … THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing it. Thank you, beautiful human being, for being in this world with us.
This is an incredible poem. I will print it out and save it with my favorite books. I’ll think of you, who lived this poem, who took the time to write it, had the courage to share it, and I will wish you all your heart longs for.