lingering, full of promise
your embrace is sweet freedom
enveloping, warm fire in winter
your words, tender gold as maple leaves
caressing my bare brown feet
father's harsh words faded
mother's stinging hands mattered not
as you gaze at me, fragrant
and dainty as white trillium flower
"There is nothing more valuable
than family honour."
a woman equal, worthy of
love and honour of your name
believing, i seize my fate
sinking, falling unto you
"You are a whore.
You are no daughter of mine."
despite my brother's cruelty
silencing the voices of my sisters
i cry out your name as
father's hand hammers my head
"My hands are clean.
This is God's punishment."
my hands are dirty and cold now
face spitted, body bloody bruised
what price is my honour ?
look to the red sea, and call my name
Posted for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - OpenLinkNight - Monday
and D'verse Poets Pub - OpenLinkNight - every Tuesday starting 3pm EST
Author's Note: This is to give my support to the Jan. 29, 2012 decision by the Canadian jury on the guilty verdict for the Shafia family (husband, wife and son) on four counts of first-degree murder. The crown alleged three teenage Shafia sisters were killed after bringing shame upon the family by dating, shunning traditional religious garb and skipping school.
Rona Ambrose, Canada's minister for status of women, took to Twitter to comment: #Shafia. Honour motivated violence is NOT culture, it is barbaric violence against women. Canada must never tolerate such misogyny as culture."
