Who would have had such hatred

such indifference

to inflict such pain

Who could have known

that she could be so assaulted

so brutally broken to pieces

Who had  foreseen

our memories being short

of the possibilities of violence

on a soul that sought to stand up

Who would now dare to question

the actions disowned

the actions trumpeted

or the actions pushed under the carpet of ignorance/time/forgetfulness

Who would now ask her daughter

to step ahead and dream

to see the world as an oyster

to fight tooth and nail

Who would not want to hide

the girl child behind the doors

behind the veils of fear, insecurity and dependence

Or do we hold a fragile hope for a better place for the girl?