Betrothed by her parents
to a much older man
A child of seven
In a far way land

Her dream was to study
to have a better life
But it was already decided
she would be a wife

Twenty fours years her senior
A man she didn't know
He would soon be her husband
and deep down her foe

In some parts of her country
little girls are kidnapped
and raped
Forced to marry
their abductor
They're no longer chaste

The night of their wedding
She wants to run away and hide
Her heart beats wildly
As she lies by his side

He lays on top of her
Her tiny body he mauls
He cannot get inside of her
Her hole is too small

She finds herself pregnant
He wants a son
She's all of fourteen
Her period had come

She carries the baby through
the nine month count
Her body is too tiny
The baby won't come out

It dies in her womb
A hole is torn underneath
She starts to leak urine
A horror she's been bequeathed

Her husband walked out
He couldn't stand her smell
And there's one more
sad thing
I have left to tell

She finally reached a hospital
After two days on a bus
Doctors were on hand
an operation to discuss

They could fix her problem
This brought her great joy
They had to take
the baby out though,
they found out
it was a boy

A day in the life of a
countryside girl
A gift from heaven
Now a bride at seven
Comments Header
Guest
May 25, 2008 6:01 PM
These are the problems we should be focused on, not Britney Spears worthless mumbo jumbo. Keep up the good work Lisa, you've opened my eyes.
Carmelita
May 21, 2008 7:00 PM
This poem is beautiful.
Your words are moving, and you have truly inspired me
Apr 25, 2008 4:13 PM
This poem has haunted me since you read it at my campus (IUPUI). African has many problems when it comes to children such as the AIDs inflicted men who brutally chop up and rape baby girls some not even one years old to rid their illness. I asked you the question of how to deal with such things as these and hopefully prayer and communicating these problems to those ignorance of it well help me with my future job with the UNHCR.
Thank you for coming to our campus to speak and staying for the dinner! We all appreciated it and hopefully we are able to have you back soon!
Mar 24, 2008 1:41 PM
WELL I AM FROM SOUTH AFRICA WHICH IS AT THE BOTTOM TIP OF AFRICA AND OVER HERE THERE IS A CERTAIN CULTURE THAT FORCES KIDS TO MARRY OLDER MEN BUT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME A MORE BROADER ASPECT IN THIS MATTER. SO THANK YOU FOR OPENING MY EYES AND AS YOUNG AS I AM, A 14 YEAR OLD KID, I'M GONNA TRY TO BE THE SOLUTION. THANKS 4 THE GREAT, TOUCHING AND THOUGHTFUL POEM...... MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
Mar 20, 2008 1:26 AM
Lisa, I saw you tonight in Pasadena. Your presentation was very moving. I was entranced by your fight for the less fortunate. Keep up the good work.
Rhi
Mar 13, 2008 4:59 PM
I love it. [[= The 4th stanza is a little akward but overall it's a very well written poem that get's the sadness of [one of] the things happening in the world across. I just wish more people knew about things like this and tried to help. ]=
Mar 12, 2008 10:16 PM
Dear Lisa, This poem is so moving. I can't stop thinking of you when I read it.
Feb 21, 2008 7:30 PM
I love your poems, but i do wonder where this is happening because it is a horrible thing for anyone to go through.
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