PLIGHT OF THE BARREN 3

Parcelled gifts of smiles
Hurts grilled like well scented chicken
Horrid reminders posing as beautiful songs
She lives the dream of horror

II
Everyone is nice to Dzifa
They politely tell her of their prayers for her
They subtly direct her to some facility or another
They jokingly ask her
…when she will bless the world with a child’s cry
She wonders why such pleasantness are acting daggers
…to so hurt her

III
Her husband is as sweet as honey
Never bothering to bring it up
…her inability to conceive
And shutting her down whenever she brings it up
Making the matter a sharp rolling stone
In her belly’s pit
Rendering her bed a discomfort
And making lovemaking a horrific chore

IV
Her in-laws act all sweet
Telling her God’s time is the best
With forced smiles and stiff necks
As they play with other kids in her presence
…occasionally looking at her in awkwardness
Sending cold chills down her spine
And forcing nervous bubbles in her stomach

V
Her friends keep inviting her to naming ceremonies
With prophesies for her in the coming year
As some pregnant others cuddle their tummies
Anytime their eyes meet hers
Making her feel all eyes have seen her –
The only desert womb
And so she walks on needles

VI
She wishes someone will slap her
…so she can cry
She wishes someone will beat her up, so she can weep
She wishes someone will push her
…so she can shout
She wishes someone will physically kill her
So she can die a death seen by all
None of that happens
So she lives like a walking dead in the coffin of society
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © September 18, 2020