hmmm. the thing is the hijab IS a piece of clothing, like any other, and it's only given such great significance because it's a religious symbol, hence the defensive comments.

I still think her choice of words, (fear in people's eyes, bystander to ponder) are ill chosen.

I never said the girl IS the fear in people's eyes, but stating that a religious dress CAN make people be afraid...is that really something you wanna say?

It's a poem, and an extremely well written one at that -- the language of poetry is not the language we use in everyday life. When the writer says "I am that hijab," she's probably referring to her dedication to Islam itself, of which hijab is a part, a "symbol." Hijab is a symbol to many for "oppression," but to her, it's a symbol to something entirely different.

I'm not sure if your problem is with the poem, or with hijab itself. If it's with the poem, then I urge you to reread it, because it's a brilliant poem. If it's with hijab, then...

Unlike "Abercrombie" or a pair of "jeans", the hijab is a commandment from God in Islam for all women to wear in order to dignify themselves, which makes it more than just a regular piece of clothing.

It looks like you couldn't understand the poem.

Nor do you have any comprehension of English literary terms.

The girl is not actually the "symbol, fear in people's eyes, etc"; the poem uses ALLEGORY, where objects, people, and actions are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative they speak of, itself.

It's just showing all the things that the hijab can be PERCEIVED to be, example: a fabric, a concept, liberation, and sometimes even a symbol of fear as to those who don't know about Islam, why it's worn.

Once again, I will dumb it down for you to understand. It shows how different people react to the hijab. A fellow hijabi seeing another hijabi may be compelled to stay strong in her faith, it may compel an onlooker to pause and wonder what is that on her head, or the bystander to ponder why it is worn.

I am more disturbed by your comment.

Good day.

a person is more than what they wear! It's sad to see someone be so attached to clothing that they identify themselves by it. It's like someone saying "I am Abercrombine" or "I am jeans!".

The poem was disturbing in a way,

I am that Hijab, that symbol, that fear, in people's eyes - what? so you're proud that people are afraid of how you dress and what it represents?

Compelling the wearer to go on, the onlooker to pause, the bystander to ponder - is this a movie scene?