A Song of Love and Hate

By: Farzana Hassan


Among the scattered ashes of her Love,
Engulfed by monstrous, smoky clouds of Hate
The cries of Zainab Noor were heard above,
The torrent of a brutal act of Hate.


Trapped beneath a well of wanton prey,
Gasping for breadth, encased by mortal strife,
Shazia cringed, as helplessly she lay,
Smothered by the lust that stole her life.

Mukhtaran Mai’s courage knew no bound,
For Love and Truth she chose to stand up strong,
Her honor though, thus trampled all around,
Lay plundered by the malice of a throng.

Each day, as many Shazias, Zainabs, Mais
Bemoan their strangled hopes, their mangled dreams,
Destined to nurture fear and woe and lies
Forced to muffle tortured shouts and screams.

And yet their cries must rise up—soaring high!
Their hopeless screams must now by all be heard
Their splattered blood-drops never, ever dry.
Let severed bones against the drums be heard!

The sun’s retiring rays above each sigh,
With every dying day shall testify,
The anguished Love of those who lived to die,
Attested by a Truthful, Crimson Sky.