Nobody Poem by Michael Ordia

Today I will tell a stories
Stories of nobodies.
Not of Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama or Chimamanda
Tales of those who might be your neighbour or a random person on the street.

At birth Fatima's fate had been sealed
She would marry Alhaji Faruq, the man old enough to be her grandfather.
She would be his sixth wife and must bear children at the age of thirteen.
She dare not love boys of her age
The only education she got was how to cook, wash and please a man
How to be an obedient slave and sex machine.
Fatima is on her death bed, she was too young to conceive.
Abandoned by all including her parents
She would fade away and no one would talk about her.

Chidera, the popular girl in the hood
Everyman that comes her way leaves with a testimony.
She is skilled with her hands, mouth and the holy place between her thighs.
Abandoned by her parents at a young age she had to survived
Disowned by her parents because she was raped.
She became a disgrace to the family while the rapist wasn't questioned.
Chidera tested positive to Aids and STIs
She has less than six months to live.

Aduke the only child of her parents
Sent to Lagos as a maid
Puberty hit her hard like a bus
At fifteen she was ebony Amber Rose
Thick thighs, huge round chest and let's not forget that pretty face.
During the night her master would have his way
She dare not scream or cry, she would be rendered homeless
During the day when they were away,
Jide, her master's son would have his way.
When she became pregnant, who was the father?
Jide? Or his father?
To hide the truth, they sealed her fate
Poisoned her, dumped her body far away and declared her missing.

These are stories of nobodies.
Untold truth and unsaid gospel.
They could be your sister, your neighbour or friend.
Would you keep quiet if they were your blood?