Nothing Has Changed

by Asmara Adanis

Picked up from the street on her way to buy colors
All she wanted was to paint her dreams free
They tortured her and raped her without a bother
For freedom of expression she was thrown on the street

Broken yet strong she came out with a message
Let this make a difference. Let’s take it to the streets
But nothing changed this time either
For human dignity is worth nil

Nothing has changed

Picked up from the street on the fourth day of eid
While on her way to the Dukkan
For the kids wanted sweets

Her crime was to question and finally demand change
With only a pen as her weapon and a heart full of rage

She was abducted, tortured and silenced with weapons of fear
They threatened to kill her child and shaved off her “Arab” hair
While everyone stands still
Human dignity is still worth nil

Nothing has changed

We get bombed by other nations
Our government vows retaliation
But homes have been destroyed, lives have been lost and of course the humiliation
Dumb and dumber speeches made, publicized and broadcasted world wide

Our government vowed not to stay silent
Silenced are our voices and retaliation is against our nation
Particularly the Sudanese female population
A woman with a voice needs to be muted
Her family needs to be broken and her home deserves to be looted

Nothing has changed

Yesterday just like today just like tomorrow
Passiveness to cancel out sorrow
The only thing that seems to change is the value of human life and honor
Zero to the dollar
on a good day