Faleeha Hassan Analysis

Faleeha Hassan is an Iraqi poet who has been called the “Maya Angelou of Iraq.” Living in a war-torn country her whole life, she displays her hope for her country in short, matter of fact poem. She describes how the streets are covered in red, and she can’t visit her “friend” due to only having her white dress. The tone is sadness and regret. She is sad, because there is war and all the streets are potentially dangerous. She only has her “white” dress, and is unable to do anything at all to change the world outside her walls. The beauty in the poem is that it is only 4 lines, but it message speaks volumes. I love this poem, because she conveyed so much without really being specific. Leaving the audience drawing conclusions and possibly inspiring
them to have their own “wish.” The poem uses figurative language to leave the reader to draw their own conclusions on the meaning. The “streets are red” can be about actual blood or red’s representation on war. This representation could be about the governments or enemies, or it could simply just be a poem about the unsafe conditions in her everyday life. The white dress can show peace or innocence/purity. If It is about the government or enemies, possible the white dress does signify innocence or her inability to want to “get dirty.” The title fits the poem well, because it is a wish/longing that Faleeha has for peace in her country. Reading more about her, I realized she is a spiritual woman, English major and teacher. She is published in multiple languages and several poems. Her “wish” is to show the world that Iraqi’s are peaceful. Even though she expresses herself by writing, she has had to worry about what consequences could happen. In Iraqi culture women’s free expression is often frowned upon. Thankfully, Faleeha was brought up in a home where she could cultivate her love of words and share them with the world.