酷我-北美枫

[星子]

BASARA, IRAQ

Once
wearing
a bright red mini-skirt
she scampered onboard
the city bus

Now
travel by public bus
is forbidden
no matter what she wears
fffffff The British turn
fffffff a blind eye
fffffff and move on

Now
it takes so little
to become a secret statistic
unrecorded
unofficial
fffffff The British
fffffff turn another
fffffff blind eye
fffffff and move on

Now
crumpled in the street
her severed head
nearby
bright red blood pours from her neck
and gathers round the feet
of the local hero
upholder of Islamic honour

fffffff Fair price
fffffff we are told
fffffff for uncovered hair

The British
turn yet another
blind eye
and move on

Elka Ruth Enola


http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2007/200712/20071218.html Listen to The Current:Part 1

This is The Current.
Britain and Basra

The long-awaited withdrawal from Basra has begun in earnest.

Britain has formally handed control of security for the southern Iraqi province and its capital city to Iraqi authorities. By the spring, Britain is expected to cut the number of troops in the province of Basra from 4,500 to 2,500. It will also pull all of its troops out of the centre of the city of Basra, leaving them on standby, ready to intervene only at the invitation of Iraqi authorities.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown set the stage for the handover, calling Basra a democracy and citing a staggering 90 per cent drop in violence. But even if that number is true, Iraq's second largest city is still a dangerous place to be -- especially if you're a woman. In the last six months, 48 women have been murdered in the city of Basra by extremist Islamic militias who seem able to kill with impunity. Basra's new police commander, Major General Jalil Khalaf, has described the situation in grave language. (warning: link contains disturbing content)

Officially, police in Basra are investigating the murders of 48 women. But many people, including Major General Jalil Khalaf, believe the number is actually much higher. And that has many women in Basra living in fear.

Yanar Mohamed is an Iraqi women's rights activist from Canada and the founder of the Organization for Women's Freedom. She spoke to us from Baghdad.

In spite of the dangers facing women in Basra, the British government still says it is time to begin pulling back from day-to-day operations there and hand over responsibility for security to Iraqi authorities.

Patrick Mercer supports that decision. He's an opposition Conservative MP and a former infantry officer with the British army. He joined us from London, England.

[[ANNA]]

BASARA, IRAQ

Once
wearing
a bright red mini-skirt
she scampered onboard
the city bus

Now
travel by public bus
is forbidden
no matter what she wears
fffffff The British turn
fffffff a blind eye
fffffff and move on

Now
it takes so little
to become a secret statistic
unrecorded
unofficial
fffffff The British
fffffff turn another
fffffff blind eye
fffffff and move on

Now
crumpled in the street
her severed head
nearby
bright red blood pours from her neck
and gathers round the feet
of the local hero
upholder of Islamic honour

fffffff Fair price
fffffff we are told
fffffff for uncovered hair

The British
turn yet another
blind eye
and move on

Elka Ruth Enola


http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2007/200712/20071218.html Listen to The Current:Part 1

This is The Current.
Britain and Basra

The long-awaited withdrawal from Basra has begun in earnest.

Britain has formally handed control of security for the southern Iraqi province and its capital city to Iraqi authorities. By the spring, Britain is expected to cut the number of troops in the province of Basra from 4,500 to 2,500. It will also pull all of its troops out of the centre of the city of Basra, leaving them on standby, ready to intervene only at the invitation of Iraqi authorities.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown set the stage for the handover, calling Basra a democracy and citing a staggering 90 per cent drop in violence. But even if that number is true, Iraq's second largest city is still a dangerous place to be -- especially if you're a woman. In the last six months, 48 women have been murdered in the city of Basra by extremist Islamic militias who seem able to kill with impunity. Basra's new police commander, Major General Jalil Khalaf, has described the situation in grave language. (warning: link contains disturbing content)

Officially, police in Basra are investigating the murders of 48 women. But many people, including Major General Jalil Khalaf, believe the number is actually much higher. And that has many women in Basra living in fear.

Yanar Mohamed is an Iraqi women's rights activist from Canada and the founder of the Organization for Women's Freedom. She spoke to us from Baghdad.

In spite of the dangers facing women in Basra, the British government still says it is time to begin pulling back from day-to-day operations there and hand over responsibility for security to Iraqi authorities.

Patrick Mercer supports that decision. He's an opposition Conservative MP and a former infantry officer with the British army. He joined us from London, England.

[星子]

Elka read her poem and I was shocked by the fact. I asked her permission to post it here.
_________________

[[ANNA]]

Elka read her poem and I was shocked by the fact. I asked her permission to post it here.
_________________

[ericcoliu]

The unbearable and intolerable gap between the ”once” and the “now”.

One of George W. Bush's 2004 election campaigns is "W stands for women". In Iraq, now, there is poverty, depravation, and displacement, which have become the breeding ground for the increased oppression of women.

The 'W' in George W. Bush stands for women's abuse and women's devastation.

By the way, ablind eye or a blind eye?
_________________
Time is nothing but a disquiet of the soul

[[ericcoliu]]

The unbearable and intolerable gap between the ”once” and the “now”.

One of George W. Bush's 2004 election campaigns is "W stands for women". In Iraq, now, there is poverty, depravation, and displacement, which have become the breeding ground for the increased oppression of women.

The 'W' in George W. Bush stands for women's abuse and women's devastation.

By the way, ablind eye or a blind eye?
_________________
Time is nothing but a disquiet of the soul

[星子]

Hi Eric,

Thanks. I printed your poem and I read it to them. They thought the title very good.

They suggested.

White Picket Fence

For years it seems
I've known you
from casual glimpses
through the Picket Fence
in the backyard

Though your face
was always partially blocked
_________________

[[ANNA]]

Hi Eric,

Thanks. I printed your poem and I read it to them. They thought the title very good.

They suggested.

White Picket Fence

For years it seems
I've known you
from casual glimpses
through the Picket Fence
in the backyard

Though your face
was always partially blocked
_________________

[星子]

Elka asked me about two versions.

I like this better

Once
wearing
a bright red mini-skirt
she scampered onboard
the city bus

Now
travel by public bus
is forbidden
no matter what she wears

Now
it takes so little
to become a secret statistic
unrecorded
unofficial

Now
crumpled in the street
her severed head
nearby
bright red blood pours from her neck
and gathers round the feet
of the local hero
upholder of Islamic honour

Fair price
we are told
for uncovered hair

The British
turn yet another
blind eye
and move on
_________________

[[ANNA]]

Elka asked me about two versions.

I like this better

Once
wearing
a bright red mini-skirt
she scampered onboard
the city bus

Now
travel by public bus
is forbidden
no matter what she wears

Now
it takes so little
to become a secret statistic
unrecorded
unofficial

Now
crumpled in the street
her severed head
nearby
bright red blood pours from her neck
and gathers round the feet
of the local hero
upholder of Islamic honour

Fair price
we are told
for uncovered hair

The British
turn yet another
blind eye
and move on
_________________

[Champagne]

I Like the second version, which is more succinct.
_________________
I'm Champagne,
Bottled poetry with sparkling joy.

[[Champagne]]

I Like the second version, which is more succinct.
_________________
I'm Champagne,
Bottled poetry with sparkling joy.

[星子]

Elka's third revision

Once
wearing
a bright red mini-skirt
she scampered onboard
the city bus

Now
travel by public bus
is forbidden
no matter what she wears
ffffffffff The British turn
fffffffffff a blind eye
fffffffffff and move on

it takes so little
to become a secret statistic
unrecorded
unofficial
fffffff The British
fffffff turn a blind eye
fffffff and move on


crumpled in the street
her severed head nearby
bright red blood
pours from her neck
and gathers round the feet
of the local hero
upholder of Islamic honour

Fair price
ffff we are told
ffff for uncovered hair

fffffff The British
fffffff turn a blind eye
fffffff and move on
_________________

[[ANNA]]

Elka's third revision

Once
wearing
a bright red mini-skirt
she scampered onboard
the city bus

Now
travel by public bus
is forbidden
no matter what she wears
ffffffffff The British turn
fffffffffff a blind eye
fffffffffff and move on

it takes so little
to become a secret statistic
unrecorded
unofficial
fffffff The British
fffffff turn a blind eye
fffffff and move on


crumpled in the street
her severed head nearby
bright red blood
pours from her neck
and gathers round the feet
of the local hero
upholder of Islamic honour

Fair price
ffff we are told
ffff for uncovered hair

fffffff The British
fffffff turn a blind eye
fffffff and move on
_________________

[星子]

This is a very profound message and poem to show the grave situation there.
_________________

[[ANNA]]

This is a very profound message and poem to show the grave situation there.
_________________

[Champagne]

I like the third version the most.

In my view, the use of repetition of lines 10, 11, and 12 really heightens the emotional impact of Elka's piece.

[[Champagne]]

I like the third version the most.

In my view, the use of repetition of lines 10, 11, and 12 really heightens the emotional impact of Elka's piece.