Her

By Kenlumzailie Michui

Often, I Observe Her:

Oppressed by the whole village,

Her own mother is sometimes the source.

Always silenced:

after brutal bashing,

verbal and psychological abuse, and

even after being obscenely sexualised at that age of five? seven?

I watched and heard her cry in the woods once or twice.

But neither She nor I voiced out,

Because I too am a victim,

Maybe her mother is too.

By Kenlumzailie Michui