Amir Murtaza
Amir Murtaza is a Karachi based Consultant and Writer. He can be contacted at amirmurtaza1@hotmail.com
Give her a Book
She works all the day
In a big house
At the corner of the narrow street.
She smiles all the time
Though her work is hard
At the morning time
When children go to school
She starts cleaning dishes
Making tea for elders
Never say NO to any work.
She feels tired every evening
Because she is too young
And, her work is too hard.
She is not meant for labor
She is passing through
Important time
Don’t waste her natural gift
Give her a book
To get education
And, flourish in life.
***
Child Marriage
Young girls forced to wed
Their dreams and hopes left for dead
In South Asia, gender violence spreads
Leaving so many lives in shreds.
Childhood lost, forced to bear
A burden too heavy to share
Marriage at an age too young
Leaves scars that can’t be undone.
Their voices silenced, their choices denied
Their bodies and souls forever defied
In South Asia, the cycle goes on
The fight against gender violence, must be won.
Let us stand up, and speak out
Against the atrocities we can’t allow
We must protect our girls and women
And empower them to take control again.
***
Inclusive Education
He plays with me
Shout and giggle
Makes different noises
Like a whistling train.
Strangers may not understand
But, they are crystal clear to me
His love is simple
For everyone.
He is as normal as other children
Doesn’t need any special school
Neither any special classroom
Nor class teacher.
He knows everything
He can play and compete with
Other children.
He is full of life
A part of my life
Please allow him to
Include in your life.
Children are children
They all are special.
_______________
