This collection of poems was written by a group of 11-14 year old girls in A High School In Tower Hamlets, as part of ‘Muslim Girls Fence’. The project is a collaboration between Maslaha and British Fencing - raising aspirations and confidence, and challenging harmful misconceptions of Muslim girls, through fencing and creativity. Fencing, often seen as a white, male dominated, elite sport, is a perfect springboard to start challenging stereotypes, and poetry has provided the opportunity for our girls to be the authors of their own stories, and therefore start #BattlingExpectations… Find out more on www.muslimgirlsfence.org A project by
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I believe in me others try to put me in small boxes to categorise me boxes labelled ‘weak’, ‘frail’ and ‘powerless’ but I am so much more than that. I have a brain that is a network to my courage and wisdom. My heart is my hospitality – the Moroccan hostess in me. My asthma is constantly triggered by the hatred from time-wasters imposing thoughts such as ‘you can’t even play! why were you chosen anyway?’ My arms are long trains of thoughts thinking of the reasons I ever listened to them. My tongue is my weapon to fight against stereotypes and my soul is my key to my freedom. My laughter reminds me of the lucky thirty days of the year when I am blessed to have fun and eat the delicious homemade food at iftar Because I am the delightful scent of the couscous cooking in my kitchen. I am the feeling of pages flipping, the hours of studying and effort. I am the sweetness of satisfaction and relief and after a long day I am a flowing waterfall relaxing its muscles. So say what you want I AM ME.
Sara Zitouni 12 Years Old
You see me as satisfied just because I smile You may think I have money So I just sit and relax But you will never know how hard this is If you only judge me at first glance Because the truth is Though my smile is a gate where everyone is welcome my heart smiles only in other’s happiness I am nothing like you think I am Not a girl that wears fancy dresses, make-up, or false eyelashes I am not cold-hearted, not weak, nor dependent on men I am not any kind of broken toy Nor carpets under your feet that you can trample on My hands are the swords I use to break stereotypes My name is Ariefa and I am Intelligence I can be as deadly and poisonous as I want You see me as an ordinary “girl� but I see me as a princess! I smell success in me you misunderstand you smell only the rice cooking in the pan but I am the smell of roses outside your garden My smile is a mask to hide negativity My heart is a golden shield that protects my sensitivity My hand is me reading the Quran praying for people to understand I earned my smile
Ariefa Rahman 13 Years Old
12 Years Old
Rose O’Connell
Her emerald green eyes shine lamely in the light of the flashlight And her face is twisted into a frown The whole room is dark apart from that one light Her mouth is a chest that she keeps locked Her eyes are pools of tears Her skin is torn paper Her headphones distract her from reality Her mind is a mask And her heart is black They think she is happy She isn’t, she’s bored Her words cut harder than a knife Her life is a secret she wants to hide
14 Years Old
Muskan Ridi
I am MuskAn, MuskAn means smile And smiling means joy. But my hair is the darkness of my pain caused by the stereotypes I face My hands are the supporters of that sorrow, they wipe my tears away and my legs are the ladders to help me escape the hatred that so often appears Because despite it all I am the brave girl who can fight against anyone to protect my dignity You always thought I tasted as sweet as honey You have compared me with fish which are easy to catch But have you ever thought I could be a deadly beast? so much more than you expect? You think I represent just a nationality but my heart is who I am and it’s pure personality.
I am not the girl who has a size 2 stomach or always has boys chasing her I am not that girl. My laughter is a mask to hide my insecurities in a world that wants me to fit its mould of how girls should be. But I am the girl who doesn’t need men’s approval to wait to have fun I have friends and family and yes I have insecurities but I wouldn’t change myself for the world. My long legs help me reach the sky. My hair is the waves of the Atlantic ocean I left behind. My memories are the sound of my mum cooking thanksgiving dinner. My hands hold echoes of family I don’t even know I have. And my heart is an open door for people no matter what race or religion. So yes, I have insecurities but I wouldn’t change myself for the world.
Soledad Luchman 11 Years Old
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