#bringbackourgirls
It was going to be like a normal night
It was going to be a chat with my fellow
girls until I give-in to sleep
It was going to be a night with Amina,
Fatima and Hauwa
Just a normal night… just after I said my
little prayer...
A night when the moon couldn’t whisper
to my innocent heart like every other
night
A night when my dreams will be
engulfed by the darkest night
Have my innocent heart committed a
crime to chase that dream?
If achieving my goals through education
is forbidden, would an early marriage be
acceptable?
If regrets could turn back the hands of
time
If wishes could make the watchman not
feel drowsy on duty
Oh! I wished my life never depended on
the weak index of that soldier (God bless
his efforts)
Or on the frail fence where we even
jump over sometimes.
In my sleep I heard strange voices; on
my feet was a tap…
‘HE’ touched me… Mama! He touched
me!!!
Screams went louder from different
sections; I closed my eyes and wished it
was a dream
Lo and Behold! The very aspiration and
my pursuit for empowerment delivered
me unto ‘HIM’.
I reached out to Hauwa to at least be on
same four-wheeled truck to share from
her courage
Instead my worst fears gripped me as I
heard more Horror and masculine voice
Gunshot loudly mellowed our screams for
help
Could I have jumped off like Fatima and
Amina; I thought of it but I couldn’t
dare…
How can this same language they speak
become foreign to me?
I called on same Allah as they too
scream…
Does a different blood flow through their
veins?
My heart beat stopped several times yet
my thoughts were wide.
The sounds of Crickets and strong wind;
cries and prayers proved we were going
deep
Deep into Isolation; deep into a cave we
talked dreadfully of in our little girl’s
gossip
The plague I once feared has come upon
me
What is forbidden? Is it my aspirations,
HIS Hellish ideology or what I have been
subjected into right now?
Father! I need now more than ever your
love to rescue me from this hate
It’s the 7th day so far and for the first
time in my tender life I have seen my
period in the forest
Mama! Oh! Mama… they wouldn’t let me
do what you have taught me.
Mama you have no idea what HE has
done me…
I heard some of us have died… some of
starvation and some from deep wounds
Mama, it’s going to be my turn
tomorrow…
I contemplate suicide, would HE do this
to me?
Mama it’s cold out here, I feel pains on
my chest am I going to die?
You will not be wrong if you think we
have taken oaths…
The heights of all imaginations have
been done to me Mama…
I will be 13years tomorrow and I have
seen it all
Mama, my tender eyes have seen the
other side of Life
Be strong Mama, I have tried not to give-
up…
Be brave as you have taught me to be
If I see you again, please don’t ask me
what has happened to me.
If not mama, know that the worse is yet
to happen because I choose not to give-
up.
The stars will never shine bright again…
The moon will set at noon…
The cock will crow at Midnight…
It will never be the same again….
But I love you Mama!!!
This piece was contributed by Nwazuosa
Nkem Kennedy and dedicated to the
abducted Chibok girls.
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