WOMAN OF THE BLACK

Your black is not beautiful

But where are you? Oh, woman of the black fabric

Why do you hide?

Do you live a painful life?

You have no rights        

Forced to be a wife

With the tears of your eyes

Behind the black fabric you hide

You have no voice

You have no face

You have no choice

Don’t you wonder why?

Men don’t hide

But why must I?

Is it pride?

Religion?

Tradition?

The law?

What would they do? Stone you?

Oh, woman of the black fabric!

You must hide

Or you will die  

 (dedicated to my dear friend Shahanna Ali from Iraq. R.I.P)

Reviews

[Duane Klinger]

Very touching. Very powerful. Very well written! I agree with Rene, it is a prespective that needs to be shared. I had a Muslim friend who came here for a year and in that year I learned so much about their culture. She cried on my shoulder, afraid to return home. She recently moved back here, has adapted our culture and has become quite successful. Nicely done!
MKLINE

[Rene Velez]

powerful, a perspective that needs to be shared, nice poem