First

I am the first
Like Fatai, our neighbour’s son
Who I like
He never snitches
Whenever I take off the veil
I just love the sight of my hair in the mirror
Baba ignores me whenever I begin to ask questions
I’ve been told,
Girls shouldn’t talk too much
But me,
I’m a parrot
That is what Fatai calls me

One day,

Usman came

Mama went to the hospital with a big tummy

She brought back a baby

Usman is a boy

He has a peepee like Fatai

Since Usman arrived

Mama smiles often

Baba stays home more than before

Kaaka now stays with us

She is helping raise her grandson
Who she calls ‘little man’
Baba too started doing same
The day he got ill

He cried all day

Yet he is Baba’s little man

Last time I broke my arm
I was just a girl
And I didn’t even cry
When the doctor gave me a shot

I am a Girl

I am a girl

My hourglass shape shows it

My perky boobs signal it

My swaying backside displays it

My curvaceous hips speak it

I dazzle

I mesmerize

Wait,

Before you ravish me,

I am also smart

My grades can compete with the eagle

I will soon be an Engineer

Before I become the President

I have dreams

I have aspirations

I am not just Voluptuous

I am a nation