The Transcript- A Woman In Dock Poem by Adeosun Olamide

I was awake
Watching it- whole night
At its pulse
Hearing it breathe

It gave joy
Much joy
Was Gods toy to
God’s gift

Is it dead
Is my child dead?
No, I didn’t kill it!
No, no pretense.
I didn’t kill it
How could I?
How could I-
Possibly strangled her?

I was awake
Watching it, the whole night
At its pulse
Hearing it breathe
Her neck was bare
I put-
Not a rope!
It was, ‘twas this-
A neck-let
It wouldn’t stay
I tightened it

Looked beautiful on her
And she beautiful in it
She smiled
As I kept watch

Until he came
-She slept
There was spit from her lips
He’d take the neck- let
And restrain me
He was violent
Wanted take her too
In that state

But I, a mother
I sheltered it
But he unheeded
He grabbed it
Shook her
And kissed her

I screamed-
As he rushed
He unleashed…
He was out with my child
And door slammed
He could harm it
He stole it

I shivered
He fell
I, I shot him

To keep my child!