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

Comments

These are particularly poetic.
Sreeja said…
Very powerful ones....great!
vivinfrance said…
Strong, and well worthy of the original tradition.
Grace said…
Very lovely, specially the verses being dove ~ May we always hear their voices loud and clear ~
Ella said…
Wow Susie...
All of yours so say much! Together they speak the world of their lives, so haunting! Well written~
Kerry O'Connor said…
My verses are a dove that carries my reality..

I love that line, and I liked how you shifted focus to the more western voice, where women are still battling for a fair deal.
Daydreamertoo said…
Very powerful, sad but lovely.
I doubt very much if they would deny a man his rights to Viagra in the same way they want to deny women their rights to not want a baby as a result of incest or rape. Sometimes your countries right wing outdated so called Christian, and utterly biased (against women) politics amaze me.
Laura Maria said…
That first line is so powerful!
Sherry Blue Sky said…
WOWZERS! Your first set of landai are stellar - love the desert song - and the ones from the viewpoint of America are raised-fist spot-on....especially the pharmaceutical erection. Loved them, Susie.
Laurie Kolp said…
Very powerful and moving, Susie!
Susie Swanson said…
Beautiful Susie.. So powerful.
ayala said…
Powerful and good!
Tigerbrite said…
These are outstanding and I feel in the tradition as explained.
Helen said…
Wow! You took us to a place we all needed to go ... the pensive image you makes your words all the more powerful!!!
Nice! The one about verses being like a dove especially struck me.