Girl - A poem by Taiwo Adetunji

She came into the world with only few drumbeats

Ah! Nothing is dangling between her legs

She will require more training

She must learn to care for her family

She must learn to love and obey her husband

She must learn to please the society

Ah! At least nothing is dangling between her legs

She must embrace quiet like a cloak

She must lower her eyes to exude respect

She must remain on bended knees to offer reverence

She must smile demurely even if it hurts

Ah! Obviously, she has nothing dangling between her legs

She wouldn’t even budge or oblige

She is untrainable

She speaks without permission

She raises her chin without lowering her eyes

She wouldn’t bend her knees

She is tagged a rebel

Ah! she probably has something dangling between her legs

Rebel is a huge word for a weaker vessel

Perhaps no lad will look her way

She would never survive the scandal

Her friends will proceed to their shelter to receive the crown

She will be mocked and jeered at

She will be called the most inappropriate name ‘man’

Ah! Now something is definitely dangling between her legs