his turban folds her free will
– Hifsa Ashraf
This beautifully worded ku brings to mind how a turban is associated with family honour in India and how the onus of keeping that honour intact is on the girls, who are conditioned to be submissive and obedient. They are taught to unquestioningly accept and respect boundaries and discouraged to have a free will and a voice. I like how this is conveyed without it being in-the face.
Commentary by Vandana Parashar
Honorable Mentions - 2023 Marlene Mountain Memorial Contest Results Judged by Rowan Beckett and Vandana Parashar - 217 one-line poems entered
