THE CROWN OF RAPE

Rape scraped the dignity of Yaaba
And crowned Akowia King in Kokoraba
Because the elders claimed succulent fruits must cover themselves
…to stop passersby from easy plucking
Agyawaadwo!

II
She was like a breath of fresh air
Her smooth black skin always shining like dawn of dark
She was like a confident lioness
…fierce, sassy, tall and rolling in measured humility
They used to call her the Rising Sun of Kokoraba

III
Akowia turned a sunny day dark with his attack
Forcing himself into her room when she was all alone
…riping her into pieces from her inside out like a rabies dog on a rampage
Left torn and worn out,
She stayed in her abused state like a statue
…till her father found her

IV
The case was sent to the Police Station
Akowia claimed it was consensual
The police told her father that words battle in court
…so she will wear the shame of the invitation by not closing firmly her doors
…if they pushed on, thereby tasting humiliation
I wanted to understand the meaning of humiliation
Does it tag along a thief or a stolen from?
But my thoughts couldn’t battle the society

V
Word had gotten out already by the time the family sat
Akowia is her cousin
…so washing dirty linens outside was a taboo
Fingers started pointing at her since then
Mouths started hawking her story since then
Men started calling her home-use, and calling Akowia Adwuma-Wura since then
Killing her light
Destroying her soul
Putting shame on her as a cover cloth ever since

VI
Afiba saw it all
That’s why she’s been reluctant to tell her people
What Kwadwo Nkansah did to her
Accepting his ridicules
And carrying the guilt of his attack

VII
I do understand her but I ask
How many others are hoarding defeat
…shame
…torture
…ridicule
…pain
…guilt and fear
Of those walking monsters?
And how many more must be subjected to their harm
…before society sees the overflowing tears in the hearts
…of its abused daughters?
What at all will it take for society to mar the disgusting crown of rape?

VIII
Eyes who see and reveal not
Mouths who know and talk not
Family who witness and testify not
Are all guilty of this soul murdering through the shooting of dignity
…serial-killing the daughters of the land
Shame should share your pillows!
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © May 16, 2020