Current Feminist Writings

Dear Father Written by: Khalida Brohi, from Pakistan (A poem about Honour Killing.)

Ever remember oh dear father
Cradled in your hands was once your only daughter
Your eyes were sad, your voice have shook
Glint of love did shone in your first look

Things changed the very moment of my life
Your features changed, boring like a knife
I looked toward you with doubt and hope
Clutched your dear hand for support

I had come in the world knowing not
What misfortune with me I brought
Life hold realities for me
To know and learn and to see

To eat my food I had to wait
It was one of my assigned fate
I waited till me brothers were done
I sat there hungry, sometimes having none

I worked in the house when my brothers played
I never mentioned but oh father I was sad
I gazed towards them misty eyed
It was when night came, I cried

Doing chores and fetching water
I ran about obeying each order
Days have passed, much in vain
Until one day when I was ten

Exhausted in the field work of all day
I wished to rest and there I lay
Tired I was, my eyes had closed
Not having known what fate they hold

Awoke at once when I felt being dragged
I saw you and for mercy I begged
Seized I was in your hands
I was a sinner, I slept on open lands

The hands that cradled me once before
To me, they belonged to you no more
My heart stopped just at the time
And I was killed for an unknown crime

I Fight Like A Girl (The author of this is anonymous.)

I fight like a girl who refuses to be a victim.
I fight like a girl who is tired of being
IGNORED and HUMORED and BEATEN and RAPED.
I fight like a girl who’s sick
of not being taken seriously.
I fight like a girl who’s been pushed too far.
I fight like a girl who OFFERS and
DEMANDS RESPECT.
I fight like a girl who has a lifetime of
ANGER and STRENGTH and PRIDE
pent up in her girly body.
I fight like a girl who doesn’t believe in
FEAR and SUBMISSION.
I fight like a girl who knows that
THIS BODY and THIS MIND are mine.
I fight like a girl who knows that

YOU ONLY HAVE AS MUCH POWER
AS I GRANT YOU.

I fight like a girl who will never allow you
to take more than I offer.
I fight like a girl who FIGHTS BACK.

So next time you think you can distract
yourself
from your insecurities by victimizing a girl,
THINK AGAIN.
She may be ME and

I FIGHT LIKE A GIRL.