Honour Killing Poem by Hardeep Sabharwal

Father:
For me you are the star of my life,
The jewel on my turban, the kohinoor.
For what purpose did I send you, O daughter?
Education is for enlightenment,
Not to defame a family’s pride.
You have cast out all norms,
And stamped on our family's honour.
How difficult it will be for me to find
Matches for your siblings and walk
Head up.
The only thing I can save is either my honour,
Or a daughter who wrongly decides.


Daughter:
You are the creator of my existence,
not only a father but also
A guide and God’s creature.
When I was a child, you were my protective shell.
Your hands were there to save me from falls.
To my wishes you always complied.
What do you want? Coloured pencils?
Fairy dresses? or dolls?
Freedom to choose;
Freedom to decide.
And now here is my life’s greatest wish,
And you want the voice of my desire to fade.
Once you said, O father,
Educated minds are enlightened.
All the world has the same blood, if not caste and colour.
The same god created us, O father.
Choosing a soulmate is my human right,
What others will say is only your fear.
You want to put an end to my love.
The colour of my blood on your hands
Will not let you regain,
The greatness of a father.
Being human is a superior thing,
Think again, think again, think again.