Dedicated:  I have dedicated this poem to all Muslim men who do not enforce the hijab on women rather advice and let them choose for themselves. It is also dedicated to all individuals from different faiths who do not judge, seclude or oppress a Muslim woman due to their choice of dress code.  Lastly and most importantly it is dedicated to my family members esp. my parents who recognize that hijab is a very personal choice of mine.

Crushed soul

Crushed – for they drill a hole

Creating void, a black hole

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

Victim

Of what?

(silence )

Victim of what?

(silence)

Prithee share, I won’t cut

Steely stares at my dress

Sense of seclusion they impress

Hijab, an issue they address

Us, they ignorantly oppress

Oh, a shallow look that regress

Me further into deeper stress

Sadness overcomes as I digress

This sorry situation; I must contest

Silence, I am silent

BUT, not acquiescent

Tolerating, finally I just had to

Let it out or simply stay blue

Wishing to find a cure, to undo

The damage done to moi, by you

For I am truly falling through

Listening to the lies you brew

Would you cure it, would you?

Answer me, in words that are true

Sethe’s chokecherry tree; what a mess

I carry one as well, oh yes

Beloved; sixty million and more…God bless!

Moi, another human; I must impress

We suffer at our own hands; I protest

Our weaknesses we must repress

Sostoris drew a blank card, I assess

A blank card people; just digress

Would you cure it, would you?

Answer me, in words that are true

Author:Arzoo Zaheer