Andrea Dietrich Poet Tanka

Notes About The Poem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHYtx1mw7TQ

A typical street in Saudi Arabia (I suppose it to be. Many like this at Google)

 

The beautiful Malala, after winning the Nobel Peace Prize. God bless her in her fight for equal rights.

Their Precious Jewels

where *Sharia reigns
women are precious jewels
hide them from the world
let no other man behold
the diamond that you possess

guard that precious gem
her ovaries will get hurt
if she drives a car
yet Sharia will permit
your woman to be chauffeured

letting jewels drive
could lead to prostitution
yet young gems are mined
and driven to Syria
Al-Queda’s ruby pleasures

dancing in the rain
two Pakistani sisters
shame their family
honor killings rained bullets
on pearls that smile on YouTube

where education
is horribly unbalanced
Jihad goes crazy
a gem shot by fanatics
receives the Nobel Peace Prize


For Richard Lamoureux's Let's Talk About It Poetry Contest

*Sharia (Islam) the body of canonical law based on the Koran that lays down certain duties and penalties for Muslims

a five- tanka series done in traditional syllable count. (Well, I hope at least a few of them are decent tanka!) 
Inspired by and Written 7/17/2015 for the  Patriarchy Contest of Thomas Martin

To see the short dance of the Pakistani girls killed to save family "honor", please click on my link at the top.

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Line Gauthier April 15, 2018 at 2:19 PM Lovely tribute, Andrea, to such a worthy cause. Superbly done.

Richard Lamoureux September 3, 2017 at 9:18 AM Hard hitting and very effective. Congrats!

Charlie Smith September 2, 2017 at 10:08 PM How old is that civilization? Really. Civilization?? Congratulations for more than the contest...

John Hamilton September 2, 2017 at 9:25 PM Congrats Andrea on this excellent poem, no wonder it's a winner!

Gregory Richard Barden September 2, 2017 at 8:39 PM (continued) I mention it to him when I feel it's in an appropriate context, but I usually get a glare. It is improving in Dubai, but not much in Saudi. Very interesting choice for your submission, as mine was also about the abuse of women, (and children). I am fav-ing this one, and I pray it gets more exposure. Blessings, friend - and congrats on a well-deserved win! :-)

Gregory Richard Barden September 2, 2017 at 8:37 PM Very powerful, Andrea, and a subject that needs MUCH more attention - thank you SO much for doing so! I sometimes do work for the Omar of Dubai, and while they pride themselves there on being "progressive", (even with human rights), they have a long way to go with treatment of women ... they are better than most Arab countries, but they are all the same family, (with the rulers of Saudi Arabia, I mean), and don't do enough to sway change in that country. (continued)

Ralph Sergi September 2, 2017 at 8:37 PM Hi Andrea: I love your approach to protest of any laws against women. As a father with 3 daughters these laws incite rape and abuse . A great poem!

Susan Ashley September 2, 2017 at 6:55 PM Congratulations Andrea on your win with this amazing poem. Very evocative And deeply moving.

Vijay Pandit September 2, 2017 at 12:37 PM Congrats Andrea on your big win!

Janis Medders Tobechi September 2, 2017 at 10:41 AM This is very moving. Daring. You have expressed well a very sad situation. It is always good to know more about the world so you can say something meaningful. Congratulations on your win.

Debbie Duncan August 13, 2015 at 1:05 AM Well I see you won with this as well :) I posted a poem xxx

Dr. Upma A. Sharma August 2, 2015 at 10:35 PM And back again with big congrats on ur superb win dear Andrea!

Skat A August 2, 2015 at 12:08 AM Andrea, congratulations. Forever **SKAT**

Shadow Hamilton July 24, 2015 at 6:57 AM crazy what people do in religions name sadly most evils can be directly traced back to religion Andrea great collection well researched too hugs

Daver Austin July 22, 2015 at 2:38 PM Sick! Love, daver

Harry Horsman July 21, 2015 at 3:48 PM Powerful poetry Andrea, my sort of worldly gripe, although i feel strongly that all religion as played a part in subduing the human race. for power and for profit.. Anyhow brilliant poetry as usual from you...oh as for the gravedigger, yes one day i may tell you all about that part of my life...

Constance La France July 20, 2015 at 5:08 PM Andrea, this is outstanding 7 and a wonderful view of life in another culture and thanks for visiting my poem, dark purple poetry

Jennifer Walker July 19, 2015 at 8:20 PM Powerful write. Great wording about the women being Jewels. Andrea Dietrich July 19, 2015 at 11:43 PM i hope you saw the video, Jenny. Also, Jewels is not my idea. This is what my students from Saudi ARabia tell me they call their women. And the stuff about their women getting damaged ovaries from driving is what they tell me too (and it's all over the internet) Good grief. I guess American women better all go see their doctors soon!

Ken Carroll July 19, 2015 at 5:19 PM a well crafted and soulful write Andrea..I enjoyed stopping by..I just watched a special on the plight of the Yazidi women at the hands of ISIS..

Sara Kendrick July 19, 2015 at 4:55 PM I hear of the poor way that the females are treated by the Muslims..I don't know if all is true or not but some of their women come out or escape and are saying that the treatment is terrible..Good work about the topic..Reads like a winner to me..Thanks for the honor of placing in your contest..I am not sure about consistency in the syllable count of Limericks..I thought that the 1,2, and 5 lines have 7-10 syllables and 3 and 4 have 5-7 syllables..I did mine 10, 10, 6, 6, and 10..I felt that I Sara Kendrick July 19, 2015 at 4:56 PM even number since I went with even number on the first one ..So therefore it was 10, 10, 6,6 and 10..Sara

Skat A July 19, 2015 at 4:50 PM a commendably thoughtful read to cherish, captivated a lovely jewel

Eileen Manassian July 19, 2015 at 1:12 PM This is heartrending. I'm well acquainted with the horror of honor killing. You should read the book, Burned Alive. So sad....Thank you for highlighting the plight of these jewels. Bless you for that.

Len Gasun July 19, 2015 at 12:30 AM An excellent poem my very dear friend, Andrea. I'm so happy and grateful to read it and to read from you again today. Indeed, jewels are gifts to be shared. Thank you very much for sharing this precious jewel my very dear friend. Thank you so much as well for your lovely words on my poem. God bless you. Love lots and biggest hugs, Leonora

Scott Thirtyseven July 19, 2015 at 12:26 AM A splendid set of tanka. How this has come about baffles me, but then again I'm of a different time, and place. I think you've dealt with this horrible topic well. As for which poem I tweeted a link to, well it is all of them. I tweeted a link to your whole collection. If you look at your poetry library page (the one that we others get to see), at the top there is a tweet button. It now has the number 5 by it. Mine is one of those, and I like to think that I inspired some of the others.

Connie Marcum Wong July 18, 2015 at 11:45 PM Her bravery and beauty has been embraced by so many in this world. Your poem is deeply moving and poignant Andrea.Education is indeed the key to freedom. A Great write!

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