Tribute to her

Dear RAWA, Thomas Fortenberry here, author of the poem "revolutionary" on your website. I was deeply saddened by the recent loss of such a beautiful spirit in Nadia Anjuman, the young Afghan poet. The world, but especially Afghanistan, cannot afford to lose its poetry. This tragedy does, however, bring back into stark focus the ever-present dangers of living while female in a repressive patriarchy, with its characteristic abuses, repressions, and general lack of freedom. I wrote this poem in her honor and thought I would share it with you. I am, as always, doing everything in my power to help promote equality, freedom, and prosperity for the women of Afghanistan. We should all do our part to keep the songs of Nadia -- her gift of poetry -- alive. Bless you all, Thomas Fortenberry Nov.18, 2005

Hawkgirl

In memory of the Afghan poet Nadia Anjuman

A captured, wild, dark-haired bird, she restrained the hawk inside because she liked to kiss the calloused knuckles of history falling like rain upon the rapture of her upturned face. Ever the hunter, she chose her perch, waited, and stared beyond the immediate loss, pain, indifference, hatred, rising like a titan before her the silhouette of patriarchy always eclipsed the sun but never blocked out the full view of the deepening, cloudless azure sky or the magnitude of the ever-embracing horizon which welcomes her return to flight in the glory of freedom. [c 2005 Thomas Fortenberry]