I wrote this rather ludicrous poem a few years ago now, and stumbling across it now, it still makes me smile a little bit.
I wrote it on my first attempt at wearing the hijab, when I was in my fourth year at university. I had just chosen to start wearing it in a town with very few Muslims, amongst my fellow students who weren’t really sure why I was suddenly wrapping my hair up in long scarves. I remember how alienated I felt, and I think some of that was to blame for the sudden burst of inspiration I got at 3 am one morning when the idea for ‘Fred’ was born. It tickled me at the time…
I think on reflection, I was desperately trying to give myself some kind of pep talk.
Anyhow, here it is:
One day, a runaway headscarf,
floating upon the wind,
attached itself to my head.
Ha Ha. It said. I will now proceed…
to live upon your head.
In vain was my struggle,
The scarf would not budge,
Loved it so much living on my head,
I therefore reduced my efforts, came to a compromise,
I called the headscarf Fred.
Fred and I, we soon grew close,
Such that we were able to share,
Many deep, philosophical musings,
On why a woman would cover her hair.
hmmm. remarked I
I’m listening… (Was Fred’s reply)
I’m not distressed, or perplexed or even vexed,
I’m not crazy, insane, or O-P-P pressed…
I just thought I’d like to do something purely for Him,
It was a careful decision, not just some careless whim
And although I’ve encountered some great positivity,
It’s kinda sad when you hear of the negativity…
Still, I don’t ever want to end up being a sheep,
Don’t want to be shallow, I strive to the depths of deep.
Fred grunted in affirmation
And then said after some deliberation;
‘Others conform,
But you’re not the norm…
Today, you placed yourself beyond people’s perceptions…
The truest actions are the ones with the purest intentions.’
‘Upon this thought let us for a moment linger….
Be Proud you’re an inky-fingered, odd-sock-wearing, hair-covering….
Freedom Thinker.
