You saw me as a refugee.
My piercing eyes your prize.
I was, am more than that.
I walked miles over mountains.
Mountains of earth, violence
hatred and poverty.
You asked no permission.
You saw in my eyes . . . what?
Pain, loss, my future?
My future was with or without
your use of me.
Your lack of concern for me.
Your future, on the other hand
calloused or not,
your future was in my eyes.
And they appeared everywhere
while they were still here.
One click and you were gone.
I became your prize photograph.
I was your prey.
Mish hosts Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. She asks us today to “look into my eyes”, giving us several ways to do that in her prompt for our poem.
My poem is written from the perspective of Sharbat Gula. Her photo was taken in 1984, by Steve McCurry and subsequently used as the cover for the June 1985 issue of National Geographic and the large book National Geographic: The Photographs published in 1994. This photo has been called “The First World’s Third World Mona Lisa.” The photo was published without her consent and the identity of the photo’s subject was not initially known. At the time, she was a child living in the Nasir Bagh refugee camp in Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
National Geographic later searched for her, not knowing her name. They found her and produced a documentary “Search for the Afghan Girl” which aired in March 2002. In her recognition, National Geographic created the Afghan Girls Fund, a charitable organization with the goal of educating Afghan girls and young women. In 2008 the scope of its mission was extended to include boys and was renamed the Afghan Children’s Fund. After finding Sharbat Gula, National Geographic also covered the costs of medical treatment for her family and a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hers is an amazing story and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Girl
lillian the home poet 
I remember seeing this picture long ago and it was haunting. Her eyes are so very beautiful, but Filled with emotional mystery! You described that mystery perfectly!
Sent from my iPhone
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We have the big “coffee table size” book of National Geographic photos and she is indeed on the cover of that. Glad you enjoyed the poem!
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Who could forget that picture and those eyes, Lill? I love that you wrote from her point of view and that, in your version, she saw the photographer for what he was.
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I was at least, very glad to read in my research, that National Geographic did search for her – no easy task – found her and id some kind of restitution for her. In the article I linked to, there is a recent photo of her….much older of course but still those eyes!
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I knew that this would be the picture just from reading your poem. I must admit that I have never read the full story, but the picture I knew so well
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It was so interesting to do the research on the photo.
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Hauntingly vivid.
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Thank you, Lucy.
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I remember this photo and story, Lillian, and I too was struck by the utter heartlessness of taking this iconic photography with no regard for the welfare of the child subject. Beautifully written poem.
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Glad you liked the poem, Dora. Yes….but I was very glad to find in my research that Nat. Geographic did search for her (no small task) and found her….and did restitution.
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OH so moving, Lillian….I like the way you empowered her through your words, giving voice to the photo. I’m sure the perspective is pretty accurate. You can see the disapproval in her beautiful eyes.
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Glad you enjoyed this one.
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Such rich information about this iconic photo and the young female. Glad you chose it.
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I was fascinated to do the research on the photo.
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She was a lovely girl. No one should have to live like she had to. Funny, the photographer spent so much time trying to track her down when he’d got himself a big hit. If he’d thought to ask her name and if she minded being photographed in the first place, it wouldn’t have been so complicated.
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I was at least heartened to read that National Geographic searched for her (no small task), found her and did some kind of meaningful restitution.
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Yes, there is that.
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haunted eyes that we all remember so well!
Yes I followed that story, thanks for sharing it!
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Haunting and piercing too!
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yes that’s an accurate description, they left an impression deep on our hearts
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I’ve reposted that image many times , This is am terrific piece, first person narrative. Thanks for sharing your research too.
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The more I read about the photo and her, the more fascinated I became. I want to watch the documentary now.
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With or without the background story, Lillian, this work is masterfully ekphastic and it totally blew me away when I finished reading & scrolled down to discover the prey-eyed photo, which forced me to go up & read that beauty again. Brava!
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What a wonderful response to read, Ron. Thank you so very much!
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Very movingly evoked❤
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Glad you enjoyed!
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I did!
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This says just as much about all refugees, that they are little more than numbers once we lay down the newspaper and go on with our lives. Your words give an added depth to the photograph.
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Yes….think of all the photos we see, and so often, of refugee faces. My research on this photo reminded me that each photo we see has a person, a real person, in it and a story that goes with it.
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When I read the prompt, this is the photograph that I thought of. I love what you did with this prompt!
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I also immediately thought of this photo the moment I read the prompt. Glad you enjoyed my poem for it.
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Too often we take without giving in return…I am glad this story had a better ending than beginning. (K)
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Me too. I was heartened to read that National Geographic searched for her – no small feat – and did restitution many years later for her and her family. I want to watch the documentary now.
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I remember this photo as well Lillian. Her eyes are really haunting. Thank you for acknowledging her name and the details of the photo.
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Glad you enjoyed, Grace. I was fascinated by my research into the photo and plan to search for and watch the documentary about National Geographic’s search for her all those years later.
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Beautiful expressions of the photo, Lillian.
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Thank you, Eugenia. So glad you enjoyed the poem.
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😊
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A wonderful poem Lillian. It is interesting that when I read through Mish’s prompt these were the first eyes that came to my mind! So captivating!
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This photo, all those years ago, made an indelible impression on so many people.
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It was so intense and iconic!
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Wow. What eyes!!!
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Exactly!
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A lovely tribute to that beautiful girl. I’ve always thought her eyes reflected an element of apprehension.
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In my research, I also found a recent photo of her. Much older, of course, but the eyes are still piercing!
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A great piece of writing befitting the classic photo of the Afghan Girl. Your best, Lillian!
Hank
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Thank you so much, Hank! Really appreciate your comment!
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What a powerful and moving poem connected to a powerful and moving story as well, wonderful lines.
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Thank you!
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Most welcome
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I remember her photo being used once on Medecins Sans Frontieres’ greeting card. Not knowing the backstory, I have always wondered why she had such a piercing look. You’ve clarified it was her disapproval through your poem. Thank you, Lill, for sharing it.
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SO GOOD to see you here, Kenji! I am so sad all our travel has been curtailed by Covid – no reunion. But, I am thankful for health and that we took our trip to Japan when we did!
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Wow! Riveting! I especially like
“You asked no permission.
You saw in my eyes . . . what?
Pain, loss, my future?
My future was with or without
your use of me.
Your lack of concern for me.”
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Thank you, Mary!
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Haunting and piercing, both her eyes and her story.
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