{"id":6956,"date":"2011-05-15T19:16:30","date_gmt":"2011-05-15T15:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/?p=6956"},"modified":"2011-07-16T11:52:57","modified_gmt":"2011-07-16T07:52:57","slug":"a-poem-about-the-saudi-women-in-black","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/middle-east-society\/a-poem-about-the-saudi-women-in-black\/","title":{"rendered":"A Poem about the Saudi “Women in Black”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Hala is a young Saudi woman, intelligent, progressive, and well-educated, who writes about women’s issues in Saudi Arabia.<\/a> She is optimistic about the future and strives for changes in the roles that Saudi women play in Saudi society. I was impressed by this poem she wrote<\/a> and wanted to share it with you. You can find out more about Hala by reading this interview she did on American Bedu’s blog<\/a> a while back.<\/p>\n

Hala’s introduction to her poem, “The Women in Black” :<\/p>\n

“When I was a little girl I was inspired by a stranger, an anonymous woman who showed up once in Gazzaz shop in Jeddah. My mother used to shop frequently there and to take us along, that young woman who had an air of confidence, and who was completely on her own enjoying herself without a fear of being watched or harrased was such an inspiration for me\u2026 Long before I can put the exact words of autonomy and self sufficiency to an independent woman, that strange woman embodied the meaning\u2026 I dedicate the following poem to all the great women of Saudi Arabia who never fail to show strength and perseverance no matter how much they face an unmet needs\u2026 This poem was recited at the Cyber activism women bloggers conference in Copenhagen” …<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

– — –<\/p>\n

The Women in Black<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once upon a time, in a busy shop<\/p>\n

In the land of tribes and ancient civilizations<\/p>\n

A little girl sat watching\u2026<\/p>\n

in silent resignation<\/p>\n

Grown-up women with shrouds of black<\/p>\n

Hidden and silent\u2026 in isolation<\/p>\n

With a \u201cno-trespassing\u201d look<\/p>\n

They wandered around in simulation<\/p>\n

When a single woman appeared, suddenly, in the shop<\/p>\n

The little girl felt a sudden sensation<\/p>\n

Yes, the woman wore the black alright\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yet, she walked with determination<\/p>\n

Not cautious, fearful, or covered-up<\/p>\n

The woman moved as a distinct population<\/p>\n

She seemed to own the world<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was \u2026 such an inspiration\u2026<\/p>\n

Why would she be on her own? The little girl wondered?<\/p>\n

Wasn\u2019t she afraid from reprimands or accusations?<\/p>\n

Looking that pretty in embroidered black,<\/p>\n

Defying the norms as if in a celebration<\/p>\n

Who gave her the money that she\u2019s spending<\/p>\n

Without a second thought or a hesitation?<\/p>\n

Was she really confident and strong as she seemed?<\/p>\n

Or is it the little girl’s wishful imagination????<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In that little girl\u2019s life<\/p>\n

Most women shared a specific combination<\/p>\n

Emotions were not revealed, opinions were suppressed<\/p>\n

With lots of reservations<\/p>\n

They held on to their black tightly<\/p>\n

Least someone recognize their identifications<\/p>\n

Their world seemed full of judging men<\/p>\n

Watching for proofs of condemnation<\/p>\n

So the women in black kept their covers tight<\/p>\n

Protecting their reputation<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yet a single woman in black dared to show her face<\/p>\n

Visible without a mask, in obvious relaxation!!<\/p>\n

The little girl knew that something\/ someone<\/p>\n

Must explain that awkward observation<\/p>\n

Of that visible woman in black<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Despite the isolation\u2026 despite the limitations<\/p>\n

As time passes-by,<\/p>\n

The little girl grows in fascination<\/p>\n

More visible women are out there<\/p>\n

Raising their voices in frustration<\/p>\n

They no longer accept second-places<\/p>\n

They no-longer sat in resignation<\/p>\n

The reality doors are shut but the virtual ones are forcedly-opened<\/p>\n

With fierce determination<\/p>\n

The women in black want their rights<\/p>\n

Demanding full participation<\/p>\n

Campaigning for municipal elections, driving,<\/p>\n

Minimum marital age or right of self- representation<\/p>\n

Commenting on international treaties for women,<\/p>\n

Gender-equality, or women-rights affiliation<\/p>\n

They are loud and visible<\/p>\n

No longer silent, passive, or fearing condemnation<\/p>\n

They write, blog, tweet, and post<\/p>\n

In a constant flow of information<\/p>\n

They build networks and constituencies<\/p>\n

Unlimited by gender-segregation,<\/p>\n

No longer helpless or maintained<\/p>\n

As prisoners of infinite duration\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yes, we are in a constant fear of social backlash<\/p>\n

But the power of words defeats organizations<\/p>\n

The little girl recalls the single woman in black\u2026<\/p>\n

Whenever she feels a hesitation\u2026<\/p>\n

Beautiful and powerful in her own way\u2026<\/p>\n

A woman, who defeats stagnation\u2026<\/p>\n

We will not be deprived<\/p>\n

We are a different generation\u2026.<\/p>\n

And if countries can be flipped over and start anew<\/p>\n

In search of liberation<\/p>\n

We, too, the women in black<\/p>\n

Can exceed our own expectations\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SUSIE OF ARABIA: A young, Saudi woman who, as a child, witnessed another woman displaying a freedom of spirit has written a poem in celebration of the inspirational character. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":6957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[80,10,5],"tags":[18275,133,177],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6956"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mideastposts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}