A child was killed
No, children have been killed
And why you may ask
Because they spoke their minds
Asked for their rights
Took off their scarves
Fought for freedom
And this is a real fight
Many have died
Innocent ones
At the hands of brutal people
Whose heart seems to be made of stone
Who are willing to kill their own countrymen
People are dying in the streets
This is not an easy fight
Courage is needed
Anger fuels their cause
But why should children die?
October 15, 2022
I am woman, hear me roar
Hear me cry out with the pent of anger of years
Hear me shout the anthem of freedom
Hear me voice my grievances
It’s been long enough
And I’m tired of being told who I should be
I am woman, hear me roar
With the courage of a lioness
Prepared to fight for her home
Prepared to protect her kin
With fervour and ferocity
I am woman, hear me roar
Don’t expect me to be quiet any longer
Don’t try to control me because it does not work
A sense of justice has been awakened with in me
Which can set fire to injustice and brutality
I am woman, hear me roar
I am stronger than you think
When I want to defend my rights
I am an opponent you should fear
I am a woman hear me roar:
Woman, life, liberty!
October 15th, 2022
She was every woman
She could be me
She could be you
She was not political
She was a visitor, a guest
Is that how one treats a guest?
Is that how one treats a sister or a mother?
She was every woman
And she was killed senselessly
She was killed in a most cruel manner
She was killed with a lot of anger
Why?
Because she was a woman
And did not closely follow the unreasonable dictates of the regime
She was every woman
And she was killed brutally
She awakened again the anger that was smouldering for years
She brought them into the streets
Demanding freedom, equality, a normal life
And a future they could look forward to
She was every woman
And she will be remembered in history
As one whose death started a revolution
October 13, 2022
These are extraordinary times
These are days of solidarity
When people put their lives on the line
For freedom of thought
For dignity
For truthfulness
For Justice
For equality
These are unprecedented times
When young and old are united
And speak with one voice
These are terrible times
When young people and children are sacrificed to uphold an ideology
The price they are paying is very high
The grief their parents and their supporters feel is immense
But their blood will water the plant of freedom
These are hopeful times
Because a nation has come together
Discovered the power there is in unity
And is marching on a path that leads to freedom
These are important times
The world has heard the cry of the people of Iran
And is arising in solidarity and protesting in the streets
To ensure the freedom of the people of this land
These are formative times
A new system based on respect for all
Based on diversity of thought and belief
Based on fundamental human rights
Is being forged
These are extraordinary times
Women are in the forefront of change
Their valour is on display
They are tired of the status quo
They are the freedom fighters of today
October 12, 2022
It’s been years that I’ve been wondering when will freedom return to Iran
When will women be able to choose how they dress themselves
When can they freely and without fear walk in the streets
When will they not be considered the weaker sex
When will their contributions to society inside and outside the home will be celebrated
When can they bike and swim and sing and dance
When can they be the voice of half of their communities
It’s been years
I’ve hoped
And then my hopes were dashed
Then a glimmering of a dawn
Before darkness enveloped that land
It’s been years
And I’ve thought to myself sometimes
I will return to Iran one day
But that day wearing the headscarf will no longer be mandatory
Women will show their lovely hair
And laugh and sing with joy about the freedom that has been so long in coming
October 11th, 2022
My heart aches for the people of Iran
For the young boys and girls in the streets
Who sacrifice their freedom and sometimes their lives
Standing up for what they believe in
Their hearts are on fire
Their rage against injustice fuels their actions
They know their rights
They know they are deprived of them
And they can no longer stay quiet
It breaks my heart that speaking up for their rights
Can lead to their death in my country of birth
That these young lives are snuffed out so cruelly and easily
As if their existence matters not
I feel deeply for the values they are fighting for
Covering one’s hair is not a sign of modesty
Why should women hide their beautiful hair from view?
All the excuses that are given are just that, excuses
Behind these dictates are the desire to subjugate women
And these things are as clear as daylight to the youth of Iran
These brave girls who die for lighting their head scarves on fire
Will be remembered long into the future
Their lives will be celebrated and their courage will be lauded
Years after those who jailed them or killed them are gone and forgotten
October 10th, 2022
For a future that is bright
For a time when the sun shines equally on everyone
For freedom of speech
When one can speak about what’s in one’s heart
For a time when a dual life ends
When one can behave the same way inside and outside one’s house
For the dawn of the equality of women and men
For the fruition of a cause long fought for
For the feeling of the wind in one’s hair
For biking and swimming in freedom
For a time when ethnicity matters not
For a time when freedom of religion exists
For a time when people stop leaving their homeland
Because they cannot see their future in Iran
For a time when love and harmony reigns
When hatred is gone
For the time of coming together of a nation
To demand their freedom of thought
For unity
For solidarity
For compassion for one’s fellow man
For decency
Transparency
And leaders one can count on
For Mahsa
For Nika
And so many more who sacrificed their lives
For the dawn of a new day in Iran
October 7th, 2022
The watchword of this movement is solidarity
Solidarity among those who have been wronged
Solidarity among those whose freedom has been robbed
Solidarity among men and women
Solidarity among old and young
Solidarity among Kurd and Lur and Bakhtyari
Solidarity among those who live throughout Iran
People are speaking with one voice
Women and the youth are leading the way
They are trying to silence their voices
With brutality and cruelty, senseless
But this is a giant that has been awakened
It’s impossible to tie her down
All the efforts to quell this fire
Will lead to it further spreading far and wide
The world is witnessing these events
They are hearing the cry of freedom
Women across the world are cutting their hair
In solidarity with the women of Iran
These women are lionesses who won’t back down
They are aware of their own power and will persist
The day is coming that they will celebrate victory
Sadly the price they are paying is very high
October 6th, 2022
Who is their leader?
They lead each other
Who inspires them?
They inspire each other
What are they fighting for?
Justice
What are they demanding?
Equality
One can’t impose unjust laws forever
One can’t sew the seeds of division ceaselessly
These young women
These freedom fighters
Tired of years of being controlled
Tired of not seeing any hope
Tired of ears that don’t listen
Tired of mouths that don’t tell the truth
These women are a force
That cannot be stopped
A damn has been opened
And it can’t be shut
The day is approaching
When they will march in freedom
The day is approaching
When all are equal
October 5th, 2022
lida's musings 