Rallentanda

Rallentanda

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Starting Over at 18


Rahal al - Qunun

no turning back
the die is cast

apostasy
in the religion of peace
is
punishable by death

who will take her

who will then hide her

may this brave young woman
embarking on a new life
know and enjoy all the freedoms
we take for granted

may God protect her
may God grant her
a long life of peace and happiness

Mid Week Motif  - Poets United





https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/08/rahaf-al-qunun-saudi-woman-under-un-protection-as-australia-urges-asylum-claim

11 comments:

  1. Oh, yes! Long life to the freed captives, every one of them!

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  2. Thanks for the link. "...enjoy all the freedoms / we take for granted"- Love the twist in the line.

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  3. This resonates, Rall, the dilemma and horror of:
    "apostasy / in the religion of peace / is / punishable by death"
    I love how you broke that up so I had to read it very slowly, allowing it to sink in to my body/soul where these women are badly hurt. Thank you for the prayer acknowledging the hard path of starting over.

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  4. May they all have freedom. Lovely poem.

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  5. Thank you for sharing her story, Rall. May her life now unfold with protection, safety and peace......things we take for granted, but denied so many, especially women.

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  6. Relax, she will get asylum in Australia.

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    Replies
    1. Don't be ridiculous...Peter Dutton will never allow it. We Thank God for Canada.

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  7. Another desperate story among thousands but no less tragic. I hope that she will find a safe haven. Well done for packing so much power into a small poem, Rall.

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