God! If you were a woman
An Afghan woman
You would be sorry
Why did you create women?
Why did you create women?
When a mother gives birth to a baby girl
She receives warnings instead of rewards
“Shame on you!
Again it is a daughter!
Again this dokhtarzai has delivered a daughter!”
What would you do if you were this mother?
What would you do if you were me?
If like me you worked day and night
Washing the clothes of 25 family members
Cooking dinner for my husband’s guests
If like me you ate smoke
If like me you ate tears
What would you think of a woman’s heart?
In the hot summer afternoons
When my husband sleeps in the shadow of the trees
I am still hungry
I am not done with my housework
I have a baby on my shoulder
I am eight months pregnant
My four-year-old is dead from fever
My husband is under the tree
Daydreaming of the money he will make
Selling my little 13-year-old Marwa,
Mariam for more, because she can knit carpets
God! If you were me
How would you feel?
How could you help a helpless mother?
God! It is you who gave them power
It is you who call them Sir!
For my choices they cut my nose
If I hear anything they cut my ears
Men use me as clothes
Something that gives them joy
No matter how I feel
No matter if I am ready or not
They love to play with a 12-year-old bride
They touch me
They hurt me
My father and my brother sell my pride
To a 70-year-old man
My price is thousands of dollars
My tears cost nothing
Nothing
God! Please come to my house
Come to Afghanistan and see
The scars in my body
My blue eyes
My cut nails
My ironed body
I am covered in my burqa
I am covered with pains
God! You said in the Quran
You are the God of justice
Who can judge you God?
If you were an Afghan woman
You would be sorry.
You would be sorry
You created me a woman
Am I not a human?
God! Who can remove my pain?
Who can heal my scars but you?
Who can hear me but you?
God! I swear
Until you stop this injustice against women
I won’t hold my hands to pray again
I won’t touch your Quran
I won’t call you God
I won’t call you God
By Anonymous
An Afghan woman holds up a poster during a protest in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, April 14, 2012. A group of Afghan women protested against domestic violence. The poster reads: “Where is justice?” Photo by Musadeq Sadeq.
This poem was reprinted in the Winter 2014 issue of Tethered By Letters.
It’s hard to overstate just how clear, just how clarion, your pain and outrage comes through, even though I am just reading this on a computer screen. And maybe it has to be that way, because if you read this in front of us, I don’t know if we could handle our own anger, our own shame, that this is happening to you and to other women. May God be listening. May the sweet universe be responsive. May peace and true freedom be yours. Stacy
These words ring out with pain..so profoundly..so moving..as the only outlet in a country ravished with unthinkable pain.
And we in the global world can hear you..we listen..take in this sadness..try to understand how we can all jointly find answers for you.
I want to hold your hand..share your anger..protect you with real caring..so you can begin to discover your own true worth..
The shame is your pain..but you never caused it..
Justice is the game of wrongs..belittling the oppressed women and child..to feed the deviant needs of men..
The innocent eyes..knowingly accepting their defeat to the male..
Without understanding why..
No reason..but for the perversive needs of the devil
This strong, brave poem alternately breaks my heart and makes me angry beyond words. I will never forget reading it. It is a truth that needs to be repeated over and over. Bravo to the the writer for saying what must be said!
Dear Anonymous….. I don’t usually write on the comment section but your poem was so sad, and your life so unbelievably hard…How you keep going I don’t know…..Your poem made me feel so very angry that you and other women should have to tolerate this kind of life…The injustice ,lack of common decency not to mention common sense ,the immense pain and humiliation is palpable.I just wanted to write to let you know that I read your poem…that people are listening….I wish that life could be so much easier and kinder for you and your fellow countrywomen….What strong Women you have to be…..If there is a Heaven…It will be people like you ,people who have had a tough time in this world, who will have the best seats….Don’t know why God would allow such injustice and immense suffering….Maybe He/She has a bigger plan????…….Sending you a Simple Hug…..I really wish I could do more….help you in some way…..Take care and know that you as a woman are just as important as any Man. X
Righteous anger can be very powerful, and this poem encapsulates that anger. It’s hard to read about the injustices and abuse women live under, and your voice comes through like a clarion call to action. Incredible respect for giving voice to your rage and for refusing to give in.
Such powerful and moving writing about injustice and abuse that never loses touch with your personal experience. I hope that this is read by very many people, and that you keep writing, because you have a clear and strong voice. Reading this poem alongside Angel Daughter increases the power and sadness of each piece.
I am simply heartbroken for you. This level of despair was not what I prepared for. To live this every day and hurt the way you hurt, I could never understand. I wish I could take you and your daughters away. You deserve so much more. Women, especially mothers, deserve the respect of the nation. You matter, and I am so sad that I can’t reach across this screen and pull you away to safety.
Wow! Such a powerful piece! Whoever you are just know you are wonderful to be able to speak your mind in such ways that I’ve never heard any other woman speak before.