Matrimony and Morality

I was reading in the news paper about the young children taken from England and forced to wed against their will, and so was inspired to write the following as a tribute.

 

 

 

 

Children missing,

Does anyone care?

          When they stand at an altar,

Concealing their tears,

Their cries of refusel,

Of protest ignored,

          2000?

This can’t go on anymore!

 

Bind them in shackles,

Strap them in chains,

Make them a veil,

          The finest coffin textile,

Send them on a journey,

Of unwanted nuptials,

          2000?

Densities un-owned.

  

Shadows surround them,

On their parting pleas,

          Fathers, bothers, husbands,

Supporting the blades,

“If you don’t go through,

Then we will kill you.”

          Fear and reminisce,

The only thing they can do,

          2000?

What if it were you?

 

Author's Note

For more info on this you can look at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4809294.stm

Reviews

[R J Askew]

Great piece of social conscience writing. The custom you highlight of forcing girls into arranged marriages in Britain country is barbaric and we should make it illegal here. I don't care what people might say about others' cultural values. To force a girl into a marriage and to kill those who resist or flee is vile. 'The finest coffin textile' is the best line for me. And the questioning works well, personalising the poem.

[lil miss Bexy]

wow this was fantastic! really made me think!
bex x

[Sparrow]

I adored the finest coffin textile part. How can we expect marriages to last if we're forcing CHILDREN to get married and unwillingly at that? This is just ridiculous. I'm going to look into it now to see what's been done. I hope there's been some progress since it was in the news. Who would want to marry a child anyway? One day a hope humanity can have a decent baseline of morals where some things are just unacceptable no matter who you are. Hurting children being one of them. Thank you for bringing this to all of our attentions.

-Sparrow

[Bubo]

Powerful write, and a topic that needs huge exposure...........after hearing about a young girl killed by her
own family because she didnt want an arranged marriage, it sickens me..........and their plight
is so covered up............awful..........and you have made a very strong emotional case for it to be
highligted!

[Melanie Jane Boicourt S..]

That was wonderful. But what is "2000?" ?
Thanks for sharing. I have read of stories like that before. Horrible. I have heard that we have work camps right here in America where people are forced to go work.
I pray that Humanity begins to act more humane soon!
Love All, Mejasha

[E. M. Murren]

I fear this happens in America as well... usually it is children forced to wed due to socio-religious norms... Obscene to my sense of morality. Legalized rape at worst. Thank you for posting this wonderfully written work. It is an important issue that we all need to address as a planet... Women need to be free to choose no matter your nationality or religion. It should be international law. Blessings.

[Rain]

WOW..
You don't think of that happening in a civilized world. That was a very powerful piece. Rain..

[Legion]

Exactly. What if it were me? Or someone I loved? It is a disgusting and cruel situation. Glad you brought it to the front. Fight the good fight.

[Raef C. Boylan]

Was 2000 the statistic for how many have gone missing?

Good that you've written from your conscience.
The layout works nicely too.

What solution, though, would you offer up? [curious]

p.s.
"Fathers, bothers, husbands," (brothers? or is this deliberate word play?)
"Their cries of refuse," (suggestion: refusal)
"What if it where you?" (where = were?)

[Ruby Moon]

this is a "serious" piece as it was based on your reading of a newpaper
maybe you can include a link of something for people like me who would like to read further about the issue? (just an idea, maybe in the author's notes or something like that?)
just an idea of course

now...on to your writing
may i ask why "2000" is so significent?
i think these sentence sum up the whole thing nicely...
"Bind them in shackles,
Strap them in chains,"

thank you for sharing this piece with me and raising the issue to my attention
i didnt know this happen before this piece