7
Birth of a baby must be a blessed event
But mine was nothing shirt of a curse
Daddy's face didn't make noise
No shots were fired. No ceremony was held
By Abdi-Noor H. Mohamed
The newborn was me. I am a girl. In my culture, gender counts most. Agirl is not as welcome as a baby boy. Raising a camel in in the rangeland is family's highest priority. They beleive a girl has no hands for that harsh combat against the enemiesesis family's highest priority. They beleive a girl has no heart for that Reconciliation in the aftermath of a clash is family's highest priority. They beleive a girl has no head for that. At five I had to face the worse. A knife cut across my genials. A midwife circumcised me. Stitched me. Infibulated me. Where I used to have a clit I have a scar now. Why inflict me with this pain? This real pain of primitive cultures in tears I am, at every stage of my life Mom and Dad, am not a daughter? Dear brother,am I not your sister? Dear mankind, wherever you are am I not a human being? Tears, Tears, Tears