Kishmar Naheed

Brief Bio

Kishmar Naheed, a poet, is known for pioneering feminist poetry in Pakistan. Born in 1947, she experienced violence during partition in Pakistan. She did not attend traditional school as women were not allowed an education; she instead earned courses through correspondence school and later earned a master’s degree in Economics.  She is best known for the poem,”We Sinners Women” and “Anticlockwise.”

“Anticlockwise”
Link to poem

“Anticlockwise” examines the restrictions in regards to society, Islam, and god. The poem examine reversals but also highlights the contrasting views between men and women. The speaker is female although it appears that she is talking to only one person. “even if for my own safety, I rub my nose in the dirt to be, it becomes invisible / even so, this fear will not leave you / that though I cannot smell / I can still say something” (6-9). No matter what humiliation the unknown male brings, she can still feel, speak, and think. 

Audio File 
Listen to the Library of Congress audio files as Naheed reads excerpts of her work.
Library of Congress file