DAMAGED

Just as we walk from the known
…to the unknown
We choose our partners from the traits we know
…out of the many potentials we don’t know

II
So imagine a fatherless girl choosing from different choices
Consider the paths she’ll choose from the many voices!
Elders will appeal to her
Abusers will scare her to succumb, making her think it’s fair
As she wears her low esteem gown down that marital aisle
Thinking her love walk is like an exile
Because she knows no father
…and has no expectations on how to choose her children’s father

III
Imagine a motherless son trying to choose a wife
He would be as lost as a domestic cock thrown into jungle life
One moment he chooses food which tastes good
Another moment he chooses an abuser who smells like the dangerous hood
He sees potential flights on good women
Thinking all will leave him as they’ve done to good men
They wear callousness as a badge of honour
And wear deceit as singlets, hoping to use it to counter dishonour

IV
That’s why love is now like a battlefield
Where one needs a good shield
As all, their great armours, do wield
If only we will loosen up
Calm down and let love shoot up
If only we can level up
Be kind and try examples that will grow us up
If only we will be strong
Letting all feel they do belong
Maybe the gender wars will cease
As our better halves get enough loyalty from our trust to seize
…the chaos and help retain peace
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © April 2023