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Mohja Kahf

The Brides of Freedom March,
12 November 2012

Four bachelorettes in wedding gowns
confront market-goers sweetly
to signal, STOP THE KILLING
WE WANT TO BUILD A COUNTRY
FOR ALL SYRIANS
Elbowed by armed men into a van
they stride toward the groom of prison
as their secret lovers in the crowd
ululate a coded shriek
Their white signs float to the ground
painted red like blood on a bedsheet

syria-brides.webp

From left to right, the signs read: 

“You’re tired, we’re tired—we want to live again—100% Syrian.”

“For the sake of Syrian human beings, civil society declares ‘Stop all military operations in Syria.’ 100% Syrian.” 

“Syria’s for all of us. 100% Syrian.”

—Translations by Mohja Kahf 

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