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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">FGM
POEM FROM SOMALIA</span></span></strong><b style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;"></b></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive; font-size: 14pt;">By Abdi-Noor H. Mohamed
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Birth of a baby must be a blessed event
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">But mine was nothing short of a curse</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Daddy's face didn't shine. Drums didn't make noise
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">No shots were fired. No ceremony was held
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">The new born was me. I am a girl
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">In my culture, gender counts most.
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">A girl is not as welcome as a baby boy
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Raising camel in the rangeland
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Is family's highest priority.
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">They believe a girl has no hands for that
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Harsh combat against the enemies</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Is family's highest priority
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">They believe a girl has no heart for that</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Reconciliation in the aftermath of a clash
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Is family's highest priority
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">They believe a girl has no head for that
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">At five I had to face the worst
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">A knife cut across my genitals
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">A midwife circumcised me
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Stitched me. Infibulated me
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Where I used to have a clit
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">I have a black scar now
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Why inflict me with this pain?
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">This real pain of primitive cultures</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">In tears I am, at every stage of my life
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Mom and Dad, am I not a daughter?
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Dear Brother, am I not a sister?
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Dear humanity, wherever you are </span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Am I not a human being?
</span><br style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS", fantasy, cursive;">Tears, Tears, Tears</span>
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