She’s a woman, because she was destined to be

Just like you, she wasn’t given an opportunity

To decide who she wanted to be From sunrise to sunset

She ponders over whose prying eyes may be upon her

She rummages in her closet to find clothes

Suitable enough to get your foul eyes off her body But she’s oblivious to the fact that what she wears

Wouldn’t take your lustful eyes off her frame

Every compliment you give her is mundane

Even though she tries to tell you they’re inane You touch her inappropriately and when she rebels

You grumble about how she wasn’t raised appropriately

You stalk her when she’s all alone, feeding on her fears

You ambush her and she’s robbed of her innocence Your ears fall deaf to her screams and pleas

You have no consideration of her age or size

You are stoic to the fact that she could be your sister or daughter

You threaten to kill her if she ever spills out your deed She picks a seed and you turn a blind eye to her

She’s being ridiculed and you join the team of ridiculers

And when she finally takes her own life

Fear and guilt fuse in your heart She was a woman who deserved to feel comfortable in her own skin

 It wasn’t her fault she was gifted with glorious features

Yet you denied her that pleasure

Now, you wish you could undo all the harm you caused

Because it’s evident your regret is beyond measure

But it’s too late

The pearl you once haunted, is gone

 She’s gone and never to return Copyright© Nasreen Zankawah,2020