Chains Of Bondage Poem by DEDAN ONYANGO

How
Many kilograms do these
Chains weigh?
Is it,2,3 or even
Eternity?

How
Long will they rest on that bony
Neck?
Is it,12years,20years or
Infinity?

How
Many are yet to undergo this desolate
Rite?
Again I ask,
Is it 10,20 or
The number is
Unknown?

Please, may I inquire?
How
Old is she?
8,10 or
The moment little balls begin to show
On her childish chest
She is ripe
And ready for sale you say?

Now that the chains of bondage
Dangles menacingly
On her malnourished neck,
Is she malleable for education?
No education for her you say?
A commodity cannot go to school you fool!
Did I hear you say?

What would she be doing
As she awaits her suitors hands?
Livestock is her duty to look after,
For now
She is forbidden until we fasten the
Chains.

Aren’t you worried about her future?
Her future was long taken care of the moment
She was confirmed to be a girl.
What about her health
Aren’t you worried it may lead to her early death?
Our consciousness affirms
She is healthy like that ram
She will bring wealth,
But not death.

Phew!
Let me ask you
One last question
Did you wear those chains
When you were her age?
Even now I still have them on
Can’t you see?
But they are heavy
I say?