I am a girl
From the provinces of Afghanistan.
From Ghor, Faryab, Baghlan.
Call me a poor girl
I do not have the ability
To fight for my own rights
To live and to marry.
For twenty-one years I lived under a blue burqa
In dark houses fearful of the Taliban.
I was not allowed outside
To talk with men
To see the shining of the sun.
But I dreamed of seeing nature in its beauty.
Of encouraging young girls
to enjoy their childhood.
But my dream became a nightmare
Instead of green nature
I saw the wild faces of the Taliban.
Instead helping other girls
I was whipped.
The Taliban came after me
Punished me because my brother-in-law
took me to the doctor
flogged us both;
We were not Mahram, or family, to each other.
The Taliban took me to the burning desert,
As I stood surrounded
They each took turns whipping me with a long stick.
I wasn’t allowed to speak
If I spoke, I was flogged more roughly than before.
It felt like my life was ending.
I was poor and uneducated.
So I ask you:
Do not be the witness to the same situations
of brutality in Afghanistan!
By Sharifa
Photo by Sgt. Daniel P. Shook
This is a powerful poem that gives a voice to the victim of this atrocity perpetrated by the Taliban — and at the same time gives voice to the victims who have not been written about in the news. Thank you for asking for an end to this brutality — and for speaking up.
WOW. This poem bears witness to the abuse and mistreatment suffered at the hands of the Taliban, and asks the reader to look and be aware of it too.
May your brighter day in green nature come someday, and someday soon. No one, man or woman of any faith or culture, should endure this.
Beautiful!
Dear Sharifa, this poem was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I pray that the day will soon come when children have nothing but happy memories and that you will be able to freely walk outside to see the sun and find beauty in the world around you. Thank you for sharing your story.
This poem breaks my heart, that the kindness of your brother-in-law was returned with cruelty at the hands of the Taliban. The longing for freedom and justice is evident in this poem. Thank you for sharing.
Dear Sharifa,
The poem is so heartbreaking that shows bad situation of both physically and mentally case of women from Afghanistan. Your freedom is limited and your rights are taken. But don’t give up. Your story will influence many other victims like you and help them fight for their rights. Hope you will able to be educate in the future and have the chance to see the beautiful parts of this world. May you can see the splendid nature in the future and children can enjoy their childhood. May the love and peace forever surrounding you. Thank you for sharing your experience.