Girl Poem by Doreen Maphosa

Eyes. Fixed. Object.
Its a girl.
Eyes. Fixed.
Judgment? Puzzlement? Admiration? Amusement?
Its just a girl.
Eyes. Fixed.
Eyes. Search back.,
An understanding gaze..,
A soft understanding..,
Acceptance..,
For a girl.
Is it too much to ask?
Eyes. Fixed.
Search. Search me.
I'm a girl.
Misunderstood.
Search. Search me.
You will find her
Misplaced.
Mistreated.
Thrown to the wolves.
Left to just..., be..,
Search. Search me.,
Marvel.
I'm a miracle of nature
Broken. Whole.
Abandoned. Rescued.
Ugly. Beautiful.
A well of beauty, of love, of fierce loyalty.
In the world. The world in me.
In life. The life in me.
Search. Search me.