Survivors Speak Out
Ali Asghar Hasnain
Impressions of a young Pakistani girl terrorised by the religious militants
Baba I am afraid!
Baba, my Miss (teacher) says
“From tomorrow
All children
Have to stay at home,
Study at home”
I have heard
A big man, an ‘Uncle’ with big black whiskers will come
Wearing a ‘Bomb’
All children will die!
Baba why would uncle want to kill us?
Have we done something bad?
Why is Uncle angry at us?
Baba, should I give him my doll?
Or my blue little box of colours remember?
The one you gave me for my last birthday
And that lovely red pony, the one with a butterfly
Should I give him that one too?
Then he won’t kill me?
Remember Baba once when
I had injured my hand
It had hurt so much
Even bled a little
I had cried so much.
Is a ‘Bomb’ very big Baba?
Will it hurt a lot perhaps?
Baba I am afraid!