{Group poem 27: Female Genital Mutilation}: Halima Ahmed

I.

The mere mention of it

Is enough to evoke

An Intertwined and raw emotions

Championed by excruciating pain and fear

Knees tremble

And, legs shut close

In pursuit of protecting

That which has already been lost

Often she wonders, if the sleep

Of the woman who performed the practice

Is haunted by the piercing cries of

The young girls she mutilated years ago

Does the hands of the women

Who pinned her

Arms and legs down

Cry in regret and remorse?

II.

She was once told by a French doctor

Through his English translator

In a room filled with Americans

That genital mutilation was Africa’s and Islam's crime

Against its women

He said, and I quote

“There is something incredibly sad

In the eyes of a woman who went through FGM”

He went on to portray African women

As weak objects and in desperate need of white saviors

He said we were so damaged and paralyzed that he

Could just take a glance and know

A mutilated woman from the crowd

He said, and again, I quote

“Lucky women, like you, ought to fight against this practice”

I looked at him as I said:

That this lucky woman is mutilated

But not damaged nor paralyzed

Just angry and hurt that this practice still continues

To haunt baby girls in and out of Africa

Mutilated women, contrary to popular belief,

Are not just Africans or Muslims

And, I ensured him, if anything

His racist, sexist and Islamophobic ideologies

Were not lost in translation

Halima Ahmed

Copyright © 2013

{Group poem 27: Female Genital Mutilation}: Mabsud A

Oh young daughters of the world

I apologize for the harm our forefathers casted upon you

So innocent and youthful you were

With your big brown eyes, gleaming with hope and potential

Just to be drowned by the ignorance of our mothers and arrogance of our fathers

Sweet mother said you'd be pure and wanted by every men

Protective father pledged to only give your hand to the highest bidder but only if they sliced away your womanhood

Your naive mind didn't know any better and you jolted at the opportunity to be more womanly. Or to be perceived highly.

Oh young daughters of the world

I apologize for the harm our forefathers casted upon you

Promising you jewels and gold in exchange for your unique flower

But in reality, you only received pain and neglect

Complications and infections, you didn't know of

Something your small mind couldn’t grasp since you barely knew your own anatomy

Oh young daughters of the world

I apologize for the harm our forefathers casted upon you

But I can only fathom how lonely you must have felt

As though you were a figment in this world and not a human

Or when your cries were muffled by screams and ululation of the joyous women of the village

And how mother said to wipe your tears and smile because today was your day

They all claimed you were flawless and immaculate now supposing you were filth before

Oh young daughters of the world,

I apologize if you ever felt as though you were a vehicle instead of a woman,

To only conceive precious daughters in a world where they'll only gain status and respect by carving out the blessing God gave them

Oh young daughters of the world,

I apologize for the harm our forefathers casted upon you

But please do not hold any grudges upon our mothers. For they knew no better.

Since they've been deprived of their right to be loved and feel loved just like you.

Oh young daughters of the world

How I yearn to hold you in my treacherous arms and wipe away your tears

Or just feel half your pain when the blade disfigured your beautiful body

Forgive me if you ever felt as though I betrayed you or forgot about you

Oh young daughters of the world,

I apologize for the harm our forefathers casted upon you

Forgive the men of your family, for they were only repeating tradition as they say

Not knowing the pain and suffering their wives and sisters felt

Forgive the men of the world even though their insecurities was the cause of your impairment

Oh young daughters of the world,

Do you ever think how different your life could have been if your flower wasn't uprooted?

Would you love your husband more? Would you feel more womanly? Would you feel complete? Or would you have been promiscuous and proving these small minded individual's hypothesis behind this horrendous act true?

Oh young daughters of the world,

I apologize for the harm our forefathers casted upon you

And I hope one day your precious daughters will be loved and feel love without having to trade their womanhood, their flower, their sexuality just to be perceived holy and clean.

Mabsud A

Copyright © 2013

Group Poems

For group poems, the participants, write a whole poem on a particular theme from their own perspectives. So far, we have had 27 groups poems on topics ranging from Islam to Somalia to being a woman for our fathers and mothers to celebrating the Somali independence to one dedicated to Mumia Abu Jamal, for love, etc. 

The current group poem #27 is about female genital mutilation or commonly known as fgm. If you wish to participate, write something on the theme and email it to somalipoets@gmail.com

{Group poem 27: Female Genital Mutilation}: A different mind-set by Hudhaifah

Weep not, wail not,

Behind the curtains, did hear the plot,

Overwhelmed by tears,

Stood with stares,

Sister in pain, helpless cried in vain.

They called it circumcision,

I retorted mutilation,

They called it dignity,

 I retorted inhumanity,

They shouted, "get out of our sight!"

Sorry sister, none couldn't hear my plight.

After a month or so, the healing no more,

After a year or so, life no more,

Finally came the regret,

To FGM, a different mind-set..

Hudhaifah Siyad

Copyright © 2013

{Group poem 27: Female Genital Mutilation}: Rahmat

I dont ask why it was done. 

I know a part of me is gone.

Even though I dont miss it.

I feel I must to the truth admit.

What was an essence of my womanhood.

Was severed to justify no good.

I dont feel less of a woman.

Living with less of an organ.

What is done, is done.

The effect is long-term.

Not to define me.

But to teach thee.

I'm not broken.

Nor confidence sunken.

Yes I'm affected.

But not defeated.

Rahmat Hashi

Copyright © 2013