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Thoughts on F.G.M. If you cut parts from girl-children in some attempt to keep them whole, they lose not just clitoris but a private piece of soul. A tradition, shockingly, aged women often practice, untrained, their unclean instruments sever village girls, stone-callous. Perhaps old ones have forgotten what it’s like to be a child, in need of love and respect, a youthful longing to run wild? Or is that why they cut them– so conditions don’t improve? Why should eight-year-olds stay whole when they were held down, unmoved by old women before them who wouldn’t hear their cries of excruciating pain – young friends. . . . accosted, betrayed, unprotected, tortured, violated, infected. . . . Young friends had even died. Even so, this ritual carries forth to yet another generation. Traditions are cultural glue– but this is outright mutilation. |
Additional Notes:
I'm not trying to be political here: Female genital mutilation is a subject about which I feel passionately and vehemently-- and, therefore, it's a poetic resource for me. If you want to learn more or find out how you can help with this world-wide problem, check out www.equalitynow.org.
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