Hear my cry for my girls
For women and mothers
Sisters and children
My cry for myself
Hear my cry for my people
For my government
For Afghan immigrants
I will shout with bloody eyes
Against discrimination in Iran
And attacks in Afghanistan
Listen to me and speak to me
I demand to stand against injustice
I write and write
For Farkhunda
Or was Tabasum
For Shokria
Oh my God, it was Rukhshana
Now Satayesh
Farkhunda died
for some mullah’s superstitions
She died and her family was exiled
Because security was lacking
And still I mourn her
Tabasum, the girl who always was smiling
I’ve never forgotten her smile
With beautiful eyes and face
I am still crying for her
Shokria killed with Tabasum by Taliban
Sacrificed because she was Hazara
Wished to stay in Afghanistan
To help her people
I am sorry my sister
I am tired of the stoning of girls
Rukhshana my sister
Satayesh!
Satayesh, you would be in school next year
But now you sleep
Wake up!
Tell me about that Iranian boy
Why he raped you
Did you shout and cry and tell him to stop
Tabasum
Shokria!
Rukhshana!
Satayesh!
The list of names endlessly
Falling like my tears
What is there to write that can make
The world listen
Should I talk about immigration?
About all those injured
Killed in Kabul’s attack!
There is such pain in my heart
Just let me cry
Hear my cry
Zahra W., age 16
Zahra is a student abroad. Satayesh stencil on wall in Kabul via Twitter.
This is a heartbreaking poem — the violence and despair is overwhelming with so many victims — known and unknown. Thank you for giving voice to this pain so that we can all feel it more acutely and work for change.
Zahra jan!
Wish you all the best.
Nice poem but sad, I wish we could live in a society with out any Violence.
Too sad. Very powerful.
“What is there to write that can make the world listen?” You are writing and that does matter! I hope you will keep on writing.
Dear sister, from Texas, USA, I hear you. I love your writing. I hold your cry in my heart. I pray for peace to come to you swiftly and soon.
Dear Zahra,
Your poem gives awareness to the hidden hardships of Afghanistan and other middle eastern countries where equality is frowned upon. The pain is felt through your poetry and the helplessness of your cries are seen. The tears that are cried by the women of these oppressed countries are like rain on the ground. They are seen but nothing is done about it. Women are suffering and your poem brings awareness to the hardships they go through. Feeling helpless in a big world is hard especially knowing that other countries have so many privileges but I hope that does not stop you from always believing in hope and fate.
At age 16, you have lived through the most devastating experiences. At age 16, you write as if no one is listening, but I promise I am. Your influence on the world is much greater than you think. Your poem is raw. You share the brutal reality. Your writing style dragged me in as I hung on to every word. I envy your courage and strength. I commend you for finding resilience for yourself. Thank you for inspiring me not only to be a better writer, but a better individual of world. My prayers go out to you, your family, and your friends.
Zahra, still in your young ages you experienced and lived through the most impressing experiences. Even in this age, you write your poem as you write your life. Influential people is born to have these talents, and you do. The quotes you have created will be told to my friends and my families. This makes how rough your life is and is impressing. In fact, I feel that you are courageous. You write what you feel and also what you hope for the future. I appreciate Zahra, for creating such a great poem and hope you can live on in your life still writing these poems. I pray that your families, you friends, and your beloved people will be safe
Your poem shows all of the injustices in Afghanistan, it shows all of the hardships. You and others your age in the Middle East have gone through so much at such a young age. This poem informs the world on what is happening. Please, continue to write, and show your courage against this violence and discrimination. More people will become aware of what life is really like there. I agree with you that you need to let out the inner pain that most people do not notice. The World will know of all of the hardships you have faced, and the toll it has taken.
Dear Zahra,
This story makes me feel very happy as of how thankful I am to live the life I am. Your poem made me realize all the struggles that people go through like women’s discrimination in Iran and the attacks in Afghanistan. The author is sick of all the troubles that she has to go through and wants a change in the world. This poem also makes me more aware and more sensitive to the news, and how the world should not only focus on the major events that happen and are covered on the news. It is tough to realize that people go through life-threatening services every day and the only thing the news covers are major attacks that happen due to terrorist activity.
Dear Zahra,
This heartbreaking poem shows me how thankful I should actually be with the life I have right now. At age 16, you have seen much of the world and you have gone through the worst experiences. Reading about the violence and the traumatic experiences that people go through is devastating. At this young of an age, you were able to express the raw reality that you brutally go through every day. Overall, your poem inspired me to be much more thankful in my life and to take advantage of every opportunity that I have. You and your community are in my prayers.
Dear Zahra,
I hear your cry, from California. I HEAR you, I am listening and your pain is my pain, even though we have experienced different lives.
Continue to speak out against injustice! Continue to lift up your voice, not only to God, but to the public, who need to hear YOUR voice. You are a beautiful writer and you write well, it’s beautiful and heart breaking, your words.
I believe in you and pray you continue using your gift to stand up for justice.