03/08/2020
VEIL
At the tender age of fourteen
She was summoned to appear before
The senior women of the clan
All dressed in their traditional long cloaks
With only their faces exposed
She approached them in fear
Afraid of what she might have to hear
But, they in one voice without faltering
Did solemnly declare that no longer
Could she walk around freely
She now needed observe the social taboos
Whenever she ventured outdoors
She would have to cover her head
With her late mother’s long veil
That they so graciously presented to her
It was made of satin and had what looked like
Embroidered mesh on one side
They declared that as the senior women
It was their duty to initiate her
Into the accepted tenets of clan behavior
She had reached the age of puberty
And like all good women in the community
She would have to follow the rules
No more kicking footballs outside school
No more talking to strange boys
She needed to hide herself under the veil
Which they carefully draped around her head
The only light she could see was through
The mesh that covered her face
At home she could still move around
With her face exposed
On hearing the stringent code of conduct
She cringed but spoke out aloud
That she was a modern young woman
She was educated
Why should she be forced to follow
Archaic rules framed by some old fashioned men
Just to show their power over women
The elders stared back in shock
No one had ever dared to raise such questions
And then they all spoke out in unison
Child –we women have no right to talk of freedom
That is the way it was and that is the way it will be
There are no exceptions not for you and not for me
by Sandra Martyres
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