The Veil
by Bob Jackson

In anger, she is beaten black and blue
afraid to move for fear of death
to stand and take it is all she can do
as she stands behind her veil

Hard times bring starvation with no avail
eating crumbs and morsels that are stale.
For fifteen summers she has survived
as she sits crying beneath her draped veil

Her mother and father killed before her eyes
With strength and in anguish she stood still.
They took her young brother and told her lies
Beaten, she lies alone under her veil.

Terrorists threatened her young life
and filled her full of pain and disgrace.
She lay on the street alone under her veil
Her veil concealed blood and tears on her face.


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