Sisters Speak

Image:Creative Commons ~ Afghanistan Matters

I am hidden from the world but not silent.

My cry sifts with sand in a desert freedom song.

~ 0 ~ 

My heart beats within this blue shroud

reaffirming there is life beyond its oppression.

~ 0 ~ 

My verses are a dove that carries my reality

to sisters who live beyond the west wind.

History has tried to silence the voices of women

but adversity only strengthens their vocal chords.

The rights of women’s health should not be hung

on the cross of a political agenda.

Ask a woman pregnant by rape

if conception is impossible.

Would the same legislators who wish to deny women birth control

write legislation to deny males a pharmaceutical erection?

©Susie Clevenger 2012

 Kenia Cris introduced us to the landai poetry of the Afghanistan women. Because they are at risk of beating and possibly death for writing poetry they use pen names to create their work.

I decided to also include landai poems from the perspective of women in the United States.
Read more about the poetry form and the women who write it at Real Toads ~ Kenia's Wednesday Challenge