I Am Anaya Poet Ekphrasis

Notes About The Poem

Under Taliban rule, Afghan women face systematic exclusion from education, employment, public life, and freedom of movement, creating a regime widely described as gender apartheid.--wiki

“Parade of Niqabs” by Anna Zemskova | Saatchi Art
Women’s rights in Afghanistan

 

Parade Of Niqabs

They tote the burdens
Of the weight of their world 
  herds of women  
underneath
    the expanse azure
In niqabs, in stance
Beneath the robes 
   wounded souls
      beneath the wraps
worn from spinning 
  too tired to collapse 
Entrapped in modesty, faith, 
   their personal choice
Muted are the colors,
   as are their voice
above circling them
  are the ancient ones
before them, mourning 
   trilling tongues, lele
    for those
who have only their
   dignity, and self-respect
the ones who carry
 the weight of the world

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Robert Gorelick April 18, 2026 at 12:43 PM Your brief, cogent exposé of women's plight in Afghanistan can be extrapolated to include the oppression of those poor and exploited with no voice or means to rise up from their wretched circumstances. Bravo for shining a light. Blind are those who refuse to see!

Paige Hind April 17, 2026 at 4:38 PM It is beyond me why the international community is allowing this. It's shameful. Powerful poem, Anaya

John Fleming April 11, 2026 at 4:08 AM The tyranny has reached its high-water mark. Now this vile cruelty with all the sorrows and terrors it has brought, along with its insidious and inhumane infamies, is in slow retreat. One day soon the night sky and burning stars will never look more beautiful to those who are daily repressed, Anaya. Then a new beginning! Never give up hope...for without hope...we are nothing. :) john I Am Anaya April 11, 2026 at 7:41 AM ...Till then we hope and we write and display our protests of repression awareness . Hello John, very pleased to meet you. Thank you, my friend for the message and beautiful comment, I appreciate it. April's blessings

Anne Winter April 9, 2026 at 7:29 PM Dear Anaya, women have faced so much injustice in this world as long as we can remember. Exclusion from education is absolutely cruel and disgusting. I don't know why but this world sometimes forget that women are humans too. Women, they have brilliant minds. Best, Anne I Am Anaya April 11, 2026 at 7:45 AM We make aware with our pens the repressions of women, new beginnings shall come, till then we hope and we write and display our protests of repression awareness . Thank you, my friend for the message and comment, Anne I appreciate it. April's blessings