SHADE

           by Khadija Javed

              You wonder what my shade is,

              What it represents.

              Call me anything;

              An extremist, a fundamentalist,

              Anything you desire.

               I don't care.

              My shade is

              My protection

              from this evil world,

               from roaming eyes,

              from diseased hearts.

              Call me anything;

              Vain or

              Submissive.

              don't care.

              My shade is

              My Protection

              of my beauty,

              reserved for one

              special gift

              that God has given me;

              My Life Partner.

              This world

             is but a fleeting moment

              about to end

              at Any Time.

              The Signs are here.

              The Day of Judgement is coming.

              No one will enter my grave with me except

              My body, my heart, my soul.

              Call me a pessimist,

              Distressed,

              Repressed,

              Oppressed,

              I don't care.

              My shade

              Covers me

              Like a tree from the sun;

              Like a coat of wax

              on your shiny new sportscar.

              My shade

              My protection,

              is my Khimaar,

              I am a woman of Islaam.