I am Woman
large-hearted like earth
vibrant like earth’s core
generous like earth’s face
fertile like earth’s bosom
bringing forth sustenance
yet trampled and debased

I am Woman
unflinchingly bearing scars for love
for Whips that
bond me! slash me! uncover me!
exposing centuries of Tradition’s weights
draining my life in droplets
red, hot and powerful 
bearing echoes of 
Tradition’s stern voice  
in favour of my menfolk

I am Woman
trapped in my heart
are sobs, wails, tears
from years, decades, centuries
for molestation and desecration
under the guise of cleansing me
at puberty’s dawn
at widowhood’s dusk
for Tradition prescribes it

I am Woman
kneeling at Tradition’s threshold 
pleading as
Tradition stands iroko tall 
witnessing my desecration
my violent initiation into womanhood
at my first drop of womanhood
debased, my life banished to Miseryland!
yet at birth I am
circumcised
infibulated
to keep me “pure”
for fear of drenching 
the clan in shame.

I am pinned down at
Tradition’s command

venomous pains sting my veins as
my freshly sprouting buds are
kneaded, pounded, ironed
with hot stones and pestles
in kitchens and hidden 
corners of the world 
writhing, I wonder if
my nature is my fault
my beauty, my undoing
why am I doomed for my nature?

I am Woman
large-hearted like earth
vibrant like earth’s core
generous like earth’s face
fertile like earth’s bosom
bringing forth sustenance
yet trampled and debased

sound the Drum to Tradition
let my plagued heartbeat
be the pulsating drumbeat
bearing my anguish
pangs of centuries, decades, years

let the Drum play my blues
telling Tradition 
that I am plagued by this puzzling reality

tell Tradition 
that I want
my body, my will, my life

tell Tradition 
that I carry within me 
centuries, decades, years of
festering sores

tell Tradition
that I am chocking on
uncried tears 
unspoken words

tell Tradition 
that I love him
but that I do not have to 
prove it with my being!

Tell Tradition to free me!

08/09/2020