Pearl in the Shell

Aint it funny

How a cut of fabric can shape your mind

Cloud your judgement

Fool your eyes

Failing to look beyond the medias lies

Branding me as oppressed 

But you fail to see what's inside

My body is under lock and key

But my soul?

My soul is free

You see

I dont know what's got you believing what you believe

If freedom lies in wearing skirts about my knees

Displaying my God-Given beauty

For hungry eyes to seize

Then what more than an object of desire does that make me?

When i pace the room

Its not the sway of my hips that have them looking

The stroke of my hair

Or the way i'm walking

It's the composure as a muslim woman I'm holding

It's the way I express my faith through my clothing

I let my personality do the talking

Responsibility?

Nah

This was given as a blessing.

By Zibz Hilwa, photographer, student and poet.  Also member of youth poetry collective 'Words Apart'