DEAR WHITEMAN

I watch her puff
…in a manner so tough
And see her desire
…which did naught to retire
But her words were no bluff
As she did speak without a cough

II
“There are many mangoes on this life tree
…you can pluck
I am a huge tree which comes with a fee
…one you can’t duck
So look and salivate
…but don’t aim to cultivate
…a pleasure and a forever
…thinking we can ply the same river

IIb
You see
My father will take his drink
…as a token of a suitor’s Thanksgiving, they allege not as fee
I know that will make you feel like a woman buyer
And will force me to feel like a decorated flier
So please let me be

IIc
Is that all?
My mother will make her need call
For all the times my stubborn self caused her misery
…to let her people know of her victory
I know how ridiculous that sounds
But it is a culture making our rounds
If I can’t fit in even when my own wants in
…with even my heartbeat struggling to be the he
How will I sneak you, a stranger, in
…knowing its danger?

IId
Will that be all?
You’ll be made to buy me cloth
…to buy me slippers
…to buy me necklaces
…to by me thread
…to buy me amoasene
…to buy me saucepans
…to buy me headgears
And ice it with a bride price in commotion of my dwetire
When I’m no odwadini
A perfect business transaction
…where I will look like your bought horse
…and feel like it
So look so far from my shadow
As I walk on my singlo

IIe
For times have traveled
But we still live in a bubble
Which sells me for trouble
…knowing I’ll struggle
Who buys a horse to walk the ground
And which kind of horse walks with its boss?
That ticket of “who paid money to marry whom”
Is one I’m giving none
…especially your kind
Who know the ridiculousness of the process
And will live like a woman trafficker
Should I as much as dare”

III
I looked at her
…ant thought it fair
Her thoughts hammering my heartbeat to force my head to share
…in her trouble
Which kind of culture creates this struggle
…for women without looking at the time on the century clock?
It sure is a sour lock of mocks
…which should give all weird shocks
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © April 13, 2021