i am speechless
what can i say?
i can't crit this
either there is nothing to crit, or the poem is so powerful i don't see any problems...

so well done... it really made me think about this horror (not that i haven't before, but with a detached attitude i suppose)
this brought home to me the subjective side to it
wonderful, especially effective the repeated 'when tomorrow comes'

love judy
xxx

I have to say I need to go to porch to contemplate on this one. It is morning here and coffee in hand. I will be back. I had a tear in my eye as I read this. I shall be back

Ms Mona

Hello again. I am back. I suppose this is cultural and the thought of it made me cringe inside. How a woman has to go through this to be accepted? Am I right? I can hardly think of the terror it brings to womanhood. You wrote this quite well and spellbounding. I want to research this to see exactly why this is so. Blessings to you and nice to meet you here.

A good writer you are

Ms Mona

You write about an abomination... it is a horror and to think this is still done in different parts of the world makes me cry angry hot tears. You have told the story very well. It is a good poem. Great title. This part captured my heart:

I must be brave
When tomorrow comes
For the mother of my grandmother's mother
Was in my place once
I cannot doubt...
I dare not run...
I must not cry...
When tomorrow comes

and

But for now just let me...
Let me...
Look in this mirror one last time
For after tomorrow
This beauty I see
Will only be a scar!

My beauty will be nothing
Nothing!!
But a scar....

always, Cat

I am voting for this poem

First off let me applaud you for your content,
poems like this one need to be written !

I do think the forward and the afterward were not needed,
and the title ... why the most prominent line from the poem,
I think I would remove the forward and title this one
" Genitalia ? " ... merely suggestions.

Poets have the right, the necessity to try and right wrongs, raise awareness, start arguments and teach. You do all that.

Like Richard I felt the introductory paragraph was un-necessary, your poem says it all.

Bravo for your courage and poetic skills.

I love Weird elf

coz he always calls a spade,
a spade
that he accuses me of ignorance of poetry
in itself is a great praise
to him in salutations I my hand raise ..

that tomorrow never comes
we all know
as it becomes a today
but your poem is sadly lovely
that i will surely say ..

As a man I can't even fathom this, and as an american it scares me to think what other things go on in this supposely civilize world of mine. your poem is earth shattering to me for people who complain of the miner things like not having the elevator in their building working. You are a poet! The emotions you convey are as real as night and day. Bravisima!

Eddie
...

A write on a subject that so many have avoided, as they feel it is too horrendous to even contemplate. What can I say other than it should never happen to anyone as I sit here at my comp in this Western room.
It is a thing I cannot change no matter what I do or whoever in our safe part of our world writes about.
Thank you for this write, there are many things in this world that need stopping, Yours Ian.T

And as i lay down...
My legs spread apart...
My heart will be full of joy...
And my eyes, dry
I'd bless those old wrinkled hands
That will hold on to those blades
Those hands
That will blot my initiation blood

you are about the boldest writer here
Don’t upon yourself ever look down,
Man has been a chauvinist
Since ages without a Y sperm
Couldn’t produce a son
But cursed the gals mom
Then he indulged in incest too,
What of man are you talking of?
Women have to lie legs apart
While the idiots enter in like a dart
Then swoosh….
They deface a beautiful face like yours
As you say
This is,
Was
And
Will be
The damned world as always
So even if you are at the helm,
You will have to still say
Ahem!

Now I have time for a proper comment.

After first reading the intro, I skipped to the comments to make sure it was good. The issue of FGM (now gladly gone) is one that still makes me very uncomfortable. I cannot sit through a hearing without grimacing or having to excuse myself.

I believe it's a very painful thing some women are forced to go through, and I'm glad activists have changed that.

Your poem uses rhyme sparsely and effectively to convey the emotions, and, I'll admit, I had to pause several times to take it in.

That you used poetry to tackle a sensitive issue is very brave. Great verse.