Poem depicting silence of suffering women, with a reference to Hillary Clinton.
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SILENT WOMEN No doubt silence is golden But it can well embolden Others to be violent To those who remain silent. Silent is a little girl, Sweet eyes shining like a pearl, Who sees her brother well fed Though she is denied her bread! The vile cruel Taliban Imposes on girls a ban That they have to stay indoors So as to guard the boys’ mores! In the Wahabi Islam Silence is enforced, a sham. There the women must be veiled, Even ankles not revealed! Silent is a poor wife who Has borne lovely daughters two; Husband wants a son, for sure, So he brings in wife one more! Silent are Muslim women For whom talaq’s ill omen Hangs on the head like a sword If the husband speaks that word! Silent is Indian bride, Who is beaten every night Since dowry she did not bring. Burn or hang her from a string! Silent is made the newborn Girl whose life is simply torn Through female infanticide, Even, female foeticide! Silence is golden they say. Maybe it’s the other way. Forced silence is barbaric. It is an act satanic! Silence of those who can speak And justice for themselves seek Can be called exemplary Only when voluntary! Women, rise, don’t be silent. You are not for silence meant. When silence afflicts the brave, It is silence of the grave! * Written in aabb, 7-7-7-7 format *Inspiration for writing this came from the report in Hindustan Times dated 12 June, 2003, regarding how the then Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (who later became the Foreign Secretary) wrote a whole chapter titled ‘Silence is not spoken here’ as part of her memoirs “Living History”, after she was inspired by a poem ‘Silence’ written by a 20 year old college girl Anusuya Sengupta, who presented it to the former First Lady during her visit to India in March 1995] * Originally written as item 712443, which was deleted 2 April 2005 and this poem was included as entry 338496 in WOMEN'S AND GENDER ISSUES, "Invalid Item" . Re-posted as staic item on 6 June 2007. MC Gupta 12 June 2003 |