I wish I had a house and a happy home
Where I could dream with open eyes
And live my life as I want to.
But life is like a teacher
Presenting you with many experiences
You learn the best way to deal with these situations
It’s not that life is cruel
It’s people that won’t allow you
To live your life as you want to
I wish I had the right to live my life as I want
A life I dreamed of
With a loving husband of my choice
We’d dream of our happy life with children
But unfortunately all is destroyed
I wish I had a house like a home
Where I could dream with open eyes!
By Mahmooda T.
Photo by Ita Joosten.
Beautiful work, Mahmooda. A poem full of heartache and poignancy — a wish for something many of us take for granted. Thank you for giving voice to what many women must feel in Afghanistan and around the world.
And some Imams dream that they control your dreams!
I love your dream and I dream that one day it might come true. Thank you for writing!
Dear Mahmooda,
The world is not an equal place and it might never be. Your poem speaks for many women around the world who do not have the freedom to say it themselves. It is so heartbreaking to see how women are pushed back by men, and for what? Why are men allowed to fulfill their dreams but women not? Your poem shows the world that there is always hope and light, and that you should never back down because someone is in your way. Reading your poem fills my eyes with tears as you have managed to write such a wonderful poem yet with a content revealing a terrible reality of the world.
Dear Mahmooda T.,
I loved the beginning of your poem when you write, “… Where I could dream with open eyes / And live my life as I want to.” The imagery of dreaming with one’s eyes open is very intriguing and powerful because people don’t usually dream with their eyes open. And in the end of your poem, when you write, “… I wish I had a house like a home,” it begs the question, “What is a house like if it doesn’t feel like home?” What a wonderful poem! Please keep writing!
Dear Mahmooda,
This poem that you wrote is very meaningful and shows the how young Afghan girls hoped for a good life. Many phrases in this poem describe the thoughts that Afghan girls had, and why they did not look up to their futures. The idea that people dream with their eyes open signifies that even though these kids dreamed about stuff, they knew it would never come true. It is very sad to read about the stuff she is talking about in this game because it seems like a completely different world from ours. She has no choice in life and is controlled by males. Like she mentioned she doesn’t even have a proper house to live in because of the affairs occurring where she lives. This makes me think of how privileged I am to be living in San Ramon. Where she lives, it seems like “I wish”, is a very significant phrase that revolves around society and this is probably why it is also the title of the poem. Additionally, this poem also shows how the Afghan wars had a huge effect on young Afghan women. This poem lets the world know how young girls are living completely different from one another, depending on where they live.