Ariadne’s Notes: We are so honoured to present the talented poet and Human Rights Activist , World Poetry Canada International Youth Director, poet and Shinning Light for Peace and Justice, Alaha Ahrar. World Poetry would like to thank her for all her support and kindness.
She will be part of our expansion team as we bring World Poetry Canada International to the next level, thanks to the inspiration and support of AJA. These are exciting times thanks to the wonderful directors and advisors.
Ms. Alaha Ahrar is a Human Rights Activist. She is one of the Board of Directors for the Afghan Women’s Writing Project (AWWP), one of the Directors of International World Poetry Youth Team, Canada and a writer and reporter for Peace X Peace Organization, Washington, DC and Banu Magazine in Europe. Ms. Ahrar graduated from University of Mary Washington with a triple major; A BA in Human Rights, a BA in Political Science and a BA in International Affairs; she also completed a certificate program in Middle Eastern Studies. Ahrar is multilingual and has excellent computer skills. She has had numerous certificates, such as Certificate of Domestic Violence Tier one and Tier two in 2014, from Fairfax County, Virginia. Certificate of CHOICES, Life Skill’s New Training from Catholics for Housing, Virginia in 2014, Certificate of Appreciation in 2013 from Diplomatic Language Services (DLS), Arlington, Virginia, Certificate of Recognition in 2012 from the Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, DC, Certificate of Excellence and Dedication in 2012 by the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women, USA, Certificate of Leaders for America and Global from Howard University in 2012 and Certificate of Appreciation from Peace X Peace Organization, Washington, DC in 2009. She is also a poet and writer and was awarded the Best Poet of the Year 2011 for Afghanistan and the United States in Canada. She was also appointed as the World Poetry Ambassador of Youth and Peace for Afghanistan in 2011. She is interested in human rights, politics, international relations development, poetry, social justice and public speaking.
Alaha receiving World Poetry Youth Ambassador medallion at her university.
Glass Heart
I am an Afghan woman
Like others around the world
I have a heart
The shape of a woman’s heart is like a man’s
So know that
I have a heart
But my heart is made of glass, like a mirror
I never let dust or fog cover it
I must shine it every day
If you stand there and smile at my heart
You will see yourself clearly smiling
But if you frown and are mean
You will see your own ugly face
Remember always
I have a heart
It’s deep inside me
Please remember again
I have a heart
And my heart is made of glass
But cowards cannot shatter it with their stones
If you try to break it
Each piece of this large shimmering glass will hurt you back
I have a heart
But my heart is made of glass
By Alaha Ahrar ©
Pingback: anatomy of autonomy | Unfolding