A Villanelle for Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow
A girl is stoned to death today,
by fifty chosen men.
It almost takes the breath away
to use the phrase 'there's hell to pay'
again, again, again.
A girl is stoned to death. Today
there are no words. You cannot say
'thirteen', or 'raped', for then
it almost takes the breath away,
and cracks the tongue. The mouth is grey.
'Adulteress'? That's when
a girl is stoned to death today,
her father part of the affray?
The pure carcinogen:
it almost takes the breath away.
The lorry leaves us. Let us pray,
unholy bretheren.
A girl is stoned to death today:
it almost takes the breath away.
Click here for the article about Aisha Ibrahim Duholow in The Guardian.
