Daughter of War | A Poem by Zahra

Mural Image: Hidden Children from Windows and Mirrors
Artists: Guilford College Community and Hannah Swenson, Courtney Mandeville and Layth Awartani

Daughter of War

I am a daughter of war.
When I was born,

The war was going on.
The sky was dark.
The houses were broken.
The weather was dusty.
The trees were seared.

There was no plant,
No awake human,
No tears in the eyes left.

The streets were covered
By dead human bodies;
The blood was like a river
In the street, house and everywhere.

I didn’t consider failure.
I was full of hope;
I could see

Green places, a blue sky,
Smiles on everyone’s face, tall buildings,
A book in my hand,

Sitting under the tree,
Studying with my parents and siblings,
In my dreams.

But

War never gave this chance.
War took my parents from us.
War took my book

And gave me burqa;
They put me in the jail of burqa.
War forbade me from going outside.

War changed my beautiful land
To the worst place in the world.
War changed our smiles to tears.

War made our dreams
Of going to school,
Freedom of speech,
To be just a dream.

But

I will try.
I will stand for my right.
I will break the silence.
I will show my power.
And I will bring peace
In my country once again.

I promised.

There will be no more war;
I will make my dreams come true.

Once again,
My homeland will be like heaven
And my people will be happy.

By Zahra

Zahra lives in a Taliban-controlled province in Afghanistan. She is the daughter of uneducated farmers who place great value on education for their children in the face of community and extended family disapproval. She is one of nine children able to pursue an education due to the ongoing support of her parents.

This poem is from the Afghan Women's Writing Project. To tell one's story is a human right.