The Mighty Pen

In a part of the world, where fiery rhetoric is often put to deleterious ends, a woman showcased her poetry to give voice to her principles. 

Saudi Arabia still imposes draconian rules on its women, but it’s also a land that lavishes the kind of adulation on poets that other countries reserve for pop stars. Home grown versions of the popular U.S. based T.V. show ‘American Idol’, have sprung up in many countries. Saudi Arabia’s is called ‘Million’s Poet’, and in April 2010, the Arab world saw a woman, Hissa Hilal, dressed in traditional niqab, challenging on stage the invidious authority of clerics who promote religious extremism, discriminate against women, and bring their faith into disrepute.

Defeat fear and conquer every frightening cave,

Do not live life with one eye looking behind.

Hissa Hilal’s words won her the support of millions of fans…and the predictable death threats. 

Her courage and her poetry were praised by the judges, who placed her third, awarding her $800,000. The 43-year-old mother of four hopes to spend the money finding better medical treatment for her autistic daughter, and perhaps, a new home for her family. To her, winning wasn’t the most important thing – “I’m happy. I said what I wanted to say. I reached what I wanted to reach. Maybe the girls and ladies will say, ‘nothing is impossible’.”