A Decorated Piece Poem by Rubaba Mmahajia Rahma Sabtiu

One morning
I took a shower
I dressed up
Ready to begin the day

I stood in front of my mirror
It did the usual thing
It showed me my self

For a while
I was glad
I looked great
My skirt was fitting

It brought out my curves
My blouse was small and sleeveless
It was right on my waist
The neck was cut low

I had short hair
So I added some more
To make it longer
I let my hair loose
For the wind to take care of it

My eye brows were well trimmed
My eye lashes were longer now
My nails have been lengthened and polished
I put on make ups

When I moved
My blouse rose a bit
Revealing my waist and my navel

When I sat
My skirt rose
Revealing my thighs and legs

My lips were beautifully lip-sticked
I had a tattoo on my chest
It denoted a star

My face was well polished
My blouse was a little transparent
My nipples pushed against my blouse

I looked ravishing and sexy
And that is every woman’s concern
The modern woman of course
Not those old fashioned women
I admire myself

I picked up my bag to go
I looked lovely
There was no doubt
But was this me?

The hair is not mine
The nails are not
The eye lashes
My hair to my toe was not me
I was artificial all over
What was I doing?
Trying to change my appearance
So I could fit into this modern world

I looked sexy
What did that mean to the outside world?
Especially the men
Who was I trying to trap?
No one in mind

I was just an innocent modern woman
Trying to be as fashionable as possible
Wanting people to see my beauty
And admire me for it

I looked like somebody else
A decorated piece
A body for sale
Was that what I was?

Did the men just admire me and let go
I am not a baby
I know the effect of my looks on them

All these while
I have been dressing for the men
No wonder they come to me like swarms of bees

I was like an uncovered honey
Free for all bees to partake in its joy
I was like an uncovered meat
Every fly is welcomed

What do I gain by doing that?
Curses and sins
Why could I not be my natural self?
People have to admire me for my brains
Not my nudity

Respect me
For the mere fact that I am a woman
And not because I am almost naked

Men have to see me as part of creation
Not a decorated piece
Nor a fun time object

Ignoring the crowd will be difficult
But I would do it anyway
I hate to be a decorated piece