Ode to the West
I am a woman of color,
Although my skin is white as yours,
I make my own decisions
And I’m sick of your terror wars,
I am a woman, who gets stared at daily,
All eyes are always on me,
I can’t seem to walk freely
In your country of Liberty!
I was raised to make my own decisions,
No man tells me what to do,
So listen, O’ West!
I have some things to say to you:
I am a woman of faith
Please tell me what’s wrong with that?
What’s wrong with having something to believe in?
Please tell me, let’s sit and have a chat
I am a woman of rich history and culture,
A woman of the Arabian Nights and the Mediterranean Sea,
“If you hate it here so badly”, you say,
“Then go back to your own country”
“Go back to your land!
The one we keep invading,
The one we “peacefully” visited
To lend our “friendly” hand,
Go back to your land!
The one we drained from oil, gold, and jewels
The one we bomb daily,
And make sure the world never sees the news;
Go back to your country!
The one we left completely broken,
The country we came to set “free”
But instead left dead bodies as token”
I can go on and on, but leave that for another day
Now, I’m here because I’m sick of you judging me
For dressing in a certain way!
I’m sick of your rumors and ugly misconceptions,
I’m sick of your disgusted stares,
Yes, I can see it in your reflections
I’m sick of you telling me how I should dress and how I should look,
Oh wait, I’m confused!
Aren’t you the one that claims women are free?
O’ dear West, excuse me,
For thinking this also applied to me!
My body, my choice!
Isn’t that what you say?
So why is it you get angry when I dress in a certain way?
My body, my choice!
Isn’t that what people hear?
So why is it when I choose to cover MY BODY and MY HAIR,
You get uncomfortable and always stare?
My body, my choice!
Isn’t that supposed to be true?
So why do you keep banning my Burkini
And want me to strip down to look like you?!
Are you afraid because I’m different?
Is this what it’s all about?
Are you intimidated by my restraint?
My decision to cover, and keep my body to myself?
Is this what it’s all about?
Are you afraid of what women could do
If they can’t be controlled by people like you?
Are you that threatened by a woman who covers her hair?
Are you so insecure? So afraid of what I wear?!
Is this why you keep spreading false information?
Why you tell the world I’m oppressed and need liberation?
Is this why you’re banning me from attending your universities?
Are you afraid of what the world would do
If they realize that the one oppressing me is you?
Let me explain it to you O’ West
In a language that you can understand
Hopefully you won’t be afraid anymore
And won’t see my veil as a crime so grand:
That piece of clothing on my head,
It’s called a “Hijab”.
It covers my hair not my brain;
It’s part of who I am and has nothing to do with you.
No one forced me to wear it.
No one forced me to cover.
My father treats me like a princess,
And I’m so spoiled by my brothers
Oh and as for my husband,
No, He doesn’t treat me like a slave.
He loves me so dearly,
And encourages me to be strong and brave
He treats me like his equal,
And doesn’t think of me as less,
But guess what O’ West?
He doesn’t ask to split the bill in two!
I guess this one of the many differences between me and you.
I am a woman of color,
With hopes and dreams like you,
A woman who struggles daily
To get equal job opportunities
I am a woman of color,
Who is also a proud woman of faith,
I am a woman, a human being
Who happens to be born in a different part of the world than you,
so can you try, O’ West, for just a moment
To switch places between me and you?
Can you try to understand where I come from?
Try to walk a day in my shoes?
Would you be okay with people looking down on you?
Like the way you look down on me?
Would you be okay with people calling you names?
Always staring at you as you pass by?
Would you be okay with being labeled?
And if you’re not, then tell me why?
Why do you do it?!
Why do you think you have a say in what I should wear?
Why do you think I should even care?
Why do you keep limiting my freedom?
Why do you keep harassing me?
Why can’t you just let me be!
If you still haven’t changed your mind after all that’s been said,
Still intimidated and disgusted of what I wear on my head,
If you still think I’m a victim, still think I’m oppressed,
Then you should know, O’ West
That yes, I am oppressed!
And yes, it’s all true!
But the one oppressing me, is not them,
It’s YOU!
© Fatima Lezzeik . April 2021
