The Plight of a Girl-Child

The cold harmattan winds of November does blow,
On a Monday morning, when all was set for work,
It was announced, a girl-child has been delivered,
The words came, clear and distinct,
Nothing good can ever come out of her.
His words, full of hatred and discrimination.

To him there was no added value
“Bringing up girls is like watering the neighbor’s garden”
A child that is not desired nor wanted
Ready to be pricked, pierced and incised
Ready to be sold out early in marriage
A reflection of values and beliefs harmful to my person
A good reason to be neglected and deprived a meaningful life.

Determined to live and excel in the struggle,
Fortune smiled on me, off to school I went,
Overcoming all odds and breaking all barriers,
Able to pursue my goals, my hidden potentials came alive
With a big vision of whom I want to be,
Unstoppable, unhindered, getting connected in a virtual space,
To be heard and seen, I am empowered and enabled
With no fear of foes, with a voice loud enough to say
Enough is enough, enough of harmful traditional and cultural practices
Give girls a chance to live,
It is our right.