The poem uses rich imagery and metaphor to show the struggle and strength of a young woman named "Sharbat Gula", presumably from a war-torn region, Afghanistan. The poem explores themes of loss, identity, and the impact of war on personal and cultural history.
The poem is divided into five stanzas:
Stanza 1:
"You became the girl with the piercing eyes when you found your country swiped by a stranger"*
The first line sets the tone, highlighting the girl’s transformation due to the traumatic loss of her homeland. Her "piercing eyes" suggest an intense and deep-seated grief or anger. The "stranger" who "swiped" her country likely represents an invader or occupying force. At that time, Afghanistan was invaded by Russia. So, Afghanis were forced to live in neighborhood countries, as she had been found in Pakistani aid Camps.
"In Kabul snow, a missile turned your mother onto coal; your last tears were wiped by a stranger."
This line vividly depicts the brutality of war, where a missile strike kills her motherland, turning it into "coal," symbolizing death and destruction. The phrase "your last tears were wiped by a stranger" suggests that the girl has been left alone, and any comfort she receives is from an unknown person, not her loved ones. There is a chance that they might have been killed by invaders.
Stanza 2:
"A garden once hung from your name like the perfume of wild apple blossoms phantom tulips"
This stanza shifts to a more nostalgic tone. The "garden" hanging from her name symbolizes a once beautiful and thriving life, filled with the scent of "wild apple blossoms" and "phantom tulips." This could be a reference to her lost home or past, which was once vibrant and full of life.
"In the refugee camp, are you Sharbat Gula, liquor of flowers, or a number typed by a stranger?"
Here, the poem contrasts her former identity with her current situation in a refugee camp. Sharbat Gula, a famous Afghan refugee known for her striking green eyes, symbolizes displaced people's iconic suffering and resilience. The girl is asked whether she retains her unique identity ("liquor of flowers") or has become just another statistic, "a number typed by a stranger," dehumanized and reduced to a faceless figure.
Stanza 3:
"Your eyes teach cold flint ignites a flare, how a father’s bones become an orphan’s roof"
This stanza reflects the wisdom and strength that the girl has gained through her suffering. "Cold flint ignites a flare" suggests that her hardships have sparked a fire within her, symbolizing resilience. The phrase "a father’s bones become an orphan’s roof" evokes the idea that even in death, her father’s legacy or memory provides some form of shelter or protection for her.
"History writes itself clear as cornea, your green glare---- no whitewashing, no hype is stranger."
This line emphasizes the importance of the girl’s story in history. Her "green glare" is a powerful image, symbolizing clarity and truth. The poem insists that her experience cannot be "whitewashed" or altered by propaganda; it’s a raw and undeniable truth.
Stanza 4:
"Pity the empire that failed to decipher the disdain in your eyes, the hard stare of war"
This stanza criticizes the imperial powers or invaders who failed to understand the girl's deep resentment ("disdain") and the toll that war has taken on her. Her "hard stare" symbolizes the harsh realities of war that she has endured.
"Pity the first world’s pity, the promise of friends who show up as every type of stranger."
The poem expresses a sense of irony or frustration with the so-called "first world" countries, whose pity is seen as hollow or superficial. The "promise of friends" refers to the unfulfilled promises made by these nations, who are "strangers" to her, offering little genuine support or understanding.
Stanza 5:
"Zeest, return to the arms of memory, the riddle of its minefields, velvet lullabies"
The final stanza calls for Zeest to return to her roots, to her memories, even though they are fraught with danger ("the riddle of its minefields") and trauma. Yet, these memories are also comforting, like "velvet lullabies," soft and soothing.
"To the lilt of this land, its lyrical storms, its bells and bagpipes, you’re no stranger"
This concluding line is a tribute to her deep connection with her homeland, despite all she has lost. The "lilt of this land" and "lyrical storms" symbolize the rich culture and history of her country, with its "bells and bagpipes" representing its unique traditions. Despite being displaced, migrants remain deeply tied to their homeland; she is "no stranger" to it, indicating that her identity is still strongly rooted in her origins.
Overall, the poem paints a poignant picture of a young girl’s life altered by war. It navigates through her memories, identity, and the external forces that have shaped her reality, while simultaneously highlighting her strength and unbreakable connection to her homeland.
Overall, the poem is a poignant portrait of a girl whose life has been transformed by war. It draws on her memories, her identity, and the outside forces that shaped her reality, and it also reveals her strength and unbreakable ties to her homeland.
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