From behind the veil

Childhood ends prematurely
for the girls here, without fail
when the time comes for us
to be banished behind the veil

Henceforth we face much more than
the desert sun's blazing attack
unseen and unheard, behind
the top to toe wall of black

Ignored by fathers, scorned by brothers
- if we aren't buried in the sand at birth,
we are sold to be (ab)used by husbands -
that's our hapless lot on earth

We have been ordained -
they say - by God's plan,
to serve and spend our lives
for the comfort and convenience of man

Denied education, opportunity and rights
we remain our father's / brother's slave
till sold for the best bride-price
no matter whoever it is that gave

Shackled to men without conscience
to please and give them sons
who are taught to subjugate women
and interpret God's words with guns

If we ever escape brutality -
and are alive to plead for divorce -
we are told we belong to the husband
and driven back to hell by force

It 's only the husband's prerogative
to keep us in his vice
or discard us by saying
'I divorce you' before 2 men, thrice

The man is never wrong, here
The law makers turn their back
No matter what he does to her, they say
'She would have provoked the attack'

For the best business deal-
 my father's hunt has begun
 I may soon become the 3rd wife
 of a man who is sixty one
 
 Behind the facade of the abaaya
we are doomed to a life which is thus
Imprisoned and out of sight
our eyes alone cry for us

Having created the free blue sky
would God have meant it this way
that through our veils we get to see
only a sky of endless grey ?

~ Farida* ~
 

 * The pen name is to bring more 
authenticity to the poem

More Poems By Shanta

Kavitanjali