under my burqa, world is small as my hand,
but with my pen, hidden under the folds, i dream of the sky.
~0~0~
why can't i choose my love,
i am not made of stone nor dry straw dusting the ground.
~0~0~
kill me with your hands,
but my words will live, setting my henna-inked sisters free.
Written for Real Toads: Landai poems are mostly voices of Afghan women. They are two-line folk poems that can often be humorous, sexy, raging, tragic and also deal with love, grief, war, exile and Afghan independence. The success of the poetry form is attributed to it being easy to memorize, which is really important in a culture where women are poorly schooled and forbidden to write or read.
An interesting Article: Why Afghan Women Risk Death to Write Poetry
Also shared with: Flash Fiction Friday - 55 words for the G-man ~Picture credit: Afghan Women's Writing Project
I LOVE these - especially that she dreams of the sky.....so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, Grace. My favorites are the first and third. Women WILL find a way!
ReplyDeletethese are awesome...each carrying a bit of rebellion in them...the hidden pen, the desire to change tradition and the sought freedom for others in the last....really great pieces....
ReplyDeleteMarvelous set of landai. That third one is really powerful!
ReplyDeleteWell written ... love it !!!
ReplyDeletevery powerful...they would love to sing this...
ReplyDeleteWith that over her, and all she can see is through the grill, she may as well be in jail.
ReplyDeleteThese are all very powerful Grace and many women risk their lives to think so freely let alone write it down.
We went shopping in an English countryside village where the entire well-heeled world concregates because everything from Bond Street is 30 percent off [as if they needed the money]. Burka-clad women, shopping with a man for ....fancy underwear it seemed. Bizarre. Didn't hear much English spoken whilst we walked around. It seemed like a parallel universe or something in a nightmare. Oppression in the midst of our freedom hurts even more.
ReplyDeleteAwesome lines Grace....Words are everlasting...Lovely!
ReplyDeleteA brave write, grace
ReplyDeleteBeautifly done
And the times, they are a changing thanks to truth expressed.
Rick
Grace,
ReplyDeleteThey all were wonderful, but the last one for me sung!
Yes, their spirits are beautiful and they are brave!
I can't imagine, this life. It is haunting~
A desire hidden behind the mask, if only there changing was allowed to be an easy task.
ReplyDeleteThese are brilliant, Grace. There is so much thought behind each one, which really gets to the heart of the challenge.
ReplyDeleteWow, what powerful words, a beautiful poem--straight to the heart. Thank you :-)
ReplyDeleteVery powerful landai, Grace. A strong voice in support of these women.
ReplyDeleteWhy can I choose my love??
ReplyDeleteAmazing Grace just beautiful!
First time I'm learning about Landai poems. This is wonderful. And inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI dream of the sky... that's brilliant. Loved the last one the most. Am glad I found out about Landal poems from you.
ReplyDeleteWow Great! thanks-
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read in the news, I know the truth you capture here. The women I have met in High School classes and in The National Writing Project that wear burqa tell a different story, one of freedom and free choice. I believe both. And I like that both of your couplets sing.
ReplyDeleteI love these, Grace. I think my favorite is "why can't I choose my love..."
ReplyDeletethank you so much for introducing me to this form. i've read a number of works about or by afghan women but have not encountered this type of poetry before. the first one truly hits deep. beautifully done. so meaningful.
ReplyDeleteThses little sentences, pieced together, added to, memorized are their thread of hope, their support. I wish their was a book of them.
ReplyDeletei like how you wove the hope in...that they can't kill their words...heard about this and they're so brave...brave write as well grace
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Grace...I especially love the first one.
ReplyDeleteI just LOVE being educated
ReplyDeleteThanks for the introduction to this form
Thanks for being so brilliant about it
Loved your poetic 55 Grace
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
Interesting story behind your 55, Grace. Oppression sucks.
ReplyDeleteAnd here I am, feeling sorry for myself because I have an awful head cold and watery eyes. How dare I? When I think of the women writing poetry in Afghanistan, I am ashamed of my trivial complaints.
ReplyDeleteBravo, Grace, and bravo to those wonderful women whose lives are so different from ours.
K
I hadn't heard of this form before, Grace. It's chilling to realize that women aren't allowed to write, so their words must be memorized. Hard to believe in this day and age that there is still such oppression against women... Thank you for sharing this...very important to be reminded.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting form , very nicely done. Lovely 55!Mine is here
ReplyDeleteHave you an AWESOME ROCKING WEEKEND!
hugs
shakira
These are beautiful .. why, oh why indeed are they not free to choose the men they love?
ReplyDeleteyes, it's an extremely religious country, not many freedoms there :(
ReplyDeleteGreat image. Great format. I learned a lot here and I felt her longing.
ReplyDeleteand poetry shall set them free, thanks for this poem
ReplyDeleteAmazing job on this. That last one is just chilling.
ReplyDelete