Fractured: Rise

 

Battered, bruised, swollen eyes,

broken ribs, fractured thighs. 

 

Psycho, macho powered, inferior, cold,

depression seized tormented boar.

Frustrated, frightens the weaker soul.

 

New namesake damages indoors,

patience preferred than flashing, endures.

Rising against the beastly scaffold,

shameful acts of womenfolk.

 

Rise o’ woman, even if you fail.

Show the light to the next woman in test. 

 

Be the light in the darkest nights,

be the sun in the bloodiest daylight.

Be the sun in the bloodiest of nights,

be the fire in the darkest daylight.

 

Today or tomorrow the sun will shine.

 

(On Domestic Violence)  

 

 

Break the Bias

 

Who is a woman? Who is a woman to you?

Your mother, sister, wife, daughter, friend, a colleague? 

The mother brought you to the world, raised you.

The sister? looked after you. Played with you, fought for you. 

The wife went with you through thick and thin.

To the daughter, you are her prince.

The friend? Who listens to you when you are in grief.

The colleague, who supports you to win.

 

Yet, she withers with time, alas!

Decorated in hair or some vase,

you hold a bias against the woman, a human being.

Weak? Strong enough to endure bone breaking pain

to give birth to you and me.

Wisdom is her trait, for she knows how to teach you, life and lead.

 

A river of intelligence and wisdom flows through her beautiful being.

Give her the freedom she fully deserves.

Equal opportunities so she can prove her worth,

to share with you her thoughts,

her choices, her decisions equally heard.

A world where she is treated equally no matter what;

to make this wonderful world a heavenly earth.

 

So today, right now,

break the bias, when you see a daughter in the womb.

Before she is born, don't make her an earthy tomb.

 

Break the bias, when you let your son free in the fields play.

While your daughter toils in the kitchen, I pray.

Break the bias, when you say, “Don’t go out, stay home.

You will be married off soon any day.”

 

Break the bias, give her education.

Break the bias, the way you look at a woman.

She is not a commodity or a good.

She is a human being just like you and me.

She is equal - treat her equally.

Once empowered, she empowers you more.

 

The world is cruel, to let her in peace dwell.

A woman scorned, with broken heart, dashed dreams and fallen hopes.

Not left alone - to live her life as her own.

 

Respect the differences in her with you.

Let her voice be heard without oppression, fear, or scorn.

 

When tides are mellow, she is soft.

When in need, a strong maiden she is!

Let her thrive to be bold and brave.

Remove all biases on her race, colour, age, body type.

Remove all biases of her place and society alike.

Embrace her sufferings as your own.

 

Will you be the first to stop the bias and change?

Change your outlook on women in disparity,

gender discrimination for the world to gain?

Stand and honour women in solidarity?

 

Let the fire, the light within her shine.

Let the world thrive with her worth enshrined.

 

Be the champions to break the bias.

Be the champions to break the bias.

 

 

Brief Bio of Tasneem Hossain:

 

Tasneem Hossain, majoring in English Language and Literature, is a multi-lingual poet from

Bangladesh. She writes poems in English, Urdu and Bengali. She is also a columnist, fiction and op-ed writer, translator, educator, and trainer.

 

Her impactful writings appear frequently in esteemed publications worldwide like: Human Rights Art Movement, Wordsmith International Editorial, Southern Arizona Press, MockingOwl Roost, Setu, Pen magazine, Valiant Scribe, Prodigy Magazine (USA), Borderless Journal (Singapore), Discover Mississauga and More-eBook, (Canada), Dark Thirty Poetry Publishing, Krishnochura (UK), Polis Magazino, Homo Universal (Greece), Borderless Journal (Singapore) Worvid and Homagi International Magazines (Indonesia), INNSÆI Journal, Cultural Reverence, MicroPoetry Cosmos, The Fatehpur Resolution, Raft of Dreams, PuspoPravat (India), Sindh Courier (Pakistan), Orfeu.al (Kosovo), Alessandria Today (Italy), Atunis Galaxy Poetry (Belgium), Gazeta Destinacioni (Albania), Life (Abu Dhabi), Barcelona-Adabia (Spain), CTHOTEM Revista Cultural (Argentina), Raven Cage, Raseef 81(Germany), Antiquities and Classique (Algiria), Friendship of People N92024 EDAS Chronicle, The Dhaka Literature, An Ekushey Anthology, Pencraft International, Kavya Kishore, The Global Nation, bdnews24.com, The Daily Star, The Business Standard, Asian Age Online, Daily Observer (Bangladesh).

 

She has achieved a number of awards for outstanding literary contribution to World Literature. 

 

Her poems have been translated in seven languages; and published in 29 countries in literary journals worldwide. She has been interviewed on several literary platforms for her contributions to world literature.

 

Several of her articles and poems are utilised as teaching material in universities and academies across various countries; some have been referenced in university research papers.

 

She runs an international poetry writing project and group named Life in Lyrics.

 

She is an author of three poetry books: ‘Grass in Green,’ ’The Pearl Necklace,’ ‘Floating Feathers’ and a book of articles ‘Split and Splice’. Four more books are currently in progress.

 

Poetry, to her, is music through words; an ever-flowing river reflecting all that surrounds us.

As an author, she tries to spread message of love, hope, mercy; and tries create an awareness of social responsibilities and human rights.

 

As an op-ed writer, she has written more than 130 articles. Some of her articles are used as teaching material in countries like China.

 

She served as a faculty member of Business English at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology. Currently, she is the director of the prominent human resource development

organization, Continuing Education Centre (Bangladesh), and Cansaz Services and Distribution LLC (Canada). With 27 years of experience, she is a highly regarded Business English language and Communication Management trainer.

 

She actively participates in sports whenever the opportunity arises. For 10 years, she worked as a newscaster, commentary reader, and radio presenter for Radio Bangladesh. She has also directed plays, including Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer.