'The Disappearance of the Afghan Woman'

During the first Creative Writing Club meeting of this academic year, with students from Year 9 and Year 10, the main topic of discussion was the current situation in Afghanistan, and its effect on girls and women.

Taking inspiration from this photograph (from the 'Mother, Daughter, Doll' series by Shadi Ghadirian), students started planning and writing their responses.

Here is a poem by Cerys H in Y9, written on 14th September, 2021:

When I was a girl    

 

When I was a girl 

I’d run wild and free 

And I had a future 

Way ahead of me 

 

Now I have a girl 

Scared as can be 

Who covers head to toe 

Can’t even show a knee 

 

When I was a girl 

Things weren’t perfect, I won’t lie 

But I could walk free of glares 

Owned by misogynistic passersby

When I was a girl 

I’d watch people fly on planes 

Travel to far off places 

But I could never do the same 

 

Now I have a girl 

And tears in my eyes 

As my daughter on the plane 

Didn’t get to say ‘goodbye’ 

Cerys H - Y9