Girl Child

From dawn, 

She began to learn the world with dolls

Nurtured to take up her mother’s skirts and shoes:

Little by little, little by little

Her two innocent feet 

Were heeled to appreciate 

The unequal native soles 

Of this patriarchal world 

The world moves forward,

And she follows his footprints

At ten, her slit was devoured 

By a shameless beast in uncle’s trousers 

All things she saw, untied the string 

Of her quizzical tongue

Mother! 

When will this private sore be healed?

When will daddy stop hitting you? 

When will you come back home with a smile,

Same way dad always come home with white envelopes?

“Let’s create a world where every girl is safe, educated, and empowered.” – Business-Standard

Poem written by James T. Abel Adesitimi