I have been lucky enough to have my poem chosen to be performed by Casey Lee Brock. A spoken word artist. Below is the result of that collaboration.
She wears the scars of the divine
They think she’ll forget given time.
that she’ll bow to the pain
And pray in his name.
But she won’t, instead,
she will cry in her bed
For God, on a mission,
Or ancient tradition.
The girls In her tribe
Just frown.
At the stain they see
On the six year old’s gown.
The heat in her face as
Infection slots In place.
Death is often the way.
Not saved from the cut,
Like a kick in the gut,
Her Mother held
Her hand that day.
It happens In a home
Just like yours,
carried-out behind
Closed house doors.
When blood seeps
through the cracks,
it’s covered with a mat
Never to be mentioned
Again.
I didn’t think it could be,
Because I was too blind to see.
Not in a house that’s
Next door to me.
For those who can not open YouTube.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FtUkd_aIgRt2MgPvX8MvOgHYD4Dv9dO1/view
Thank you Casey for choosing to perform my piece I am very proud.
The article below was taken directly from Feb 2017 ITV news.
A case of female genital mutilation (FGM) is either discovered or treated in England every hour, according to the analysis of NHS statistics by a charity.
Between April 2015 and March 2016 there were 8,656 times when women or girls attended doctors’ surgeries or hospitals and the problem was assessed – the equivalent of one every 61 minutes.
Did you know this barbarity was so prevalent in the UK? Talk to me please. I will get back to you promptly.
I am so proud of you for writing this and bringing it to our attention. It must have been hard for you to write about this.
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Thank you Walt it is harder for those children. People like us who write and can spread awareness should gird our loins and do things which scare and horrify us sometimes. Thank you Walt, for taking the time.
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You’re very welcome.
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Have a good weekend.
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You too.
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I don’t want to press the like button but the word must be spread. Yes I did know and I find it abhorrent! I have written about it too.
https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2018/07/07/graces-birthday/
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Thank you Ellen. This is such a powerful poem and will create much needed ripples…
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😇
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I am shocked..but should I be? Well written and performed on such a barbaric custom and in the name of what? I find it hard to believe that this and many other atrocities are done or performed on women and girls…What gives men the god given right to justify this…I can’t say anymore although my thoughts are many just what is the solution? You should be proud of that poem, Ellen xxx
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Proud that I tackled it but not so proud of the humanrace that can live with these barbaric customs. 😢 if it can alert one person, stop one other female from being cut … this poem was worth the tears.
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I agree Ellen I have a problem with the fact that it seems to always be the female of the race …especially in these so called enlightened times…Very sad
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Very x
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A beautiful poem about an ugly practice. I wrote a post about FGM years ago.
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So sad that we are still needing to. But thank you.
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That’s a very powerful poem, Ellen, on such a barbaric practice.
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Somethings need saying with a powerful voice 😢😕
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A great piece of writing Ellen. You should be super proud of yourself. 🙂
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*Swanks about a bit* ‘I am’ loving your comment. X
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Haha… your welcome, and I’ve just realised I’ve missed the letter n in your name 🤦♀️ sorry lovely.
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Oh sorted by magic. Though I thought you were making me more wicked or sic 🤣😂
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😆❤️
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This is just awesome Ellen and a brilliant poem 💜
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A tough subject but one that needs tackling. Thank you for listening/reading.
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💜
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Such a moving poem. The things some women have to suffer is just horrifying. The reasons for FGM perpetuate the man as owner and woman as possession belief which is abhorrent. I find it equally abhorrent that a lot of women who have been through it then visit it on the next generation. Truly dreadful.
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It is and thank you for reading.
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When atrocities are carried out in the name of culture, tradition, or religion, I see red. There are instances where local clerics have stood up and denounced the practice of genital mutilation, stating categorically it is not mentioned in the Koran. They are a minority. At best, it is carried on by people willing to continue doing what they’ve always done, because they’ve always done it. They know no other way. At worse, ….
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Exactly.
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It’s all part of the big (enormous) picture of female oppression. In the west, where we don’t go to the same extremes, the authorities turn a blind eye and just clean up the mess, in the name of cultural integrity, religious tolerance and all that crap, because it’s only women, after all. It happens here too, and for the same woolly-minded reasons. I’m sick of denouncing this kind of thing only to be told you have to respect cultural differences. Why?
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As you know Jane it happens in both sexes and must be stopped. Though it is somewhat more barbaric in females of all ages. Assault, Actual bodily harm, or attempted murder should be used against perpetrators.
It was 1875 when we raised the consent to penetration in Great Britain to 16 from 13. So many countries are centuries behind us on simple legislation. Not enough is done, where is our duty of care to all children residing here. 😔😕😢
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It’s a lot more barbaric for females. Circumcision is perfectly legal and is carried out in a hospital environment. Whether you agree with it or not, there’s no need for it to be clandestine and it’s the object of festivities afterwards. Female excision is illegal, practiced in awful, terrifying conditions with high risk of infection leading to death. It’s whole purpose is to prevent women experiencing any pleasure in intercourse, stitching them up again so tight (because it’s more fun for their husband then, isn’t it?) that they risk death from hemorrhage when they give birth, at home, because the menfolk don’t want the authorities to see how their wives have been mutilated. You’re right, there isn’t enough done to protect children from the idiocy of their parents’ culture. We get an awful lot of it here, mainly women from Sub-Saharan Africa.
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So shameful.
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It is. Pregnancies and births with no medical supervision until the poor woman is rushed to emergency. You’d think there’d be criminal proceedings but it hardly ever happens.
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Yes we can and I wrote a poem on the same subject , we must shout out and shout loud . I applaud you your poem hit the right note.
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Yay! Worthy poem spectacularly spoken.
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Who knew such evil continues.
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We are hearing that some kids and parents will never be reunited.
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😣😐
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Wow, Ellen. This was such a powerful poem on the brutality of FGM, and the fact that it STILL goes on behind closed doors. Casey performed your poem beautifully. 🙂
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Thanks for such a great comment.
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My pleasure. 🙂
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thank you. That was so powerful and needs to be put out there. I had no idea of the stats. Makes me feel sick thinking about it.
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My daughter works in education and has to teach headmistress’s how to spot it. Horrific.
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I am shocked that this mutilation is practised so frequently in the UK. Your poem is powerful and Casey adds power to it with his words. Yes, I hope artists like you and Casey can be heard and make a difference.
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Your support means an awful lot. Thanks Norah.
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Wow. Powerful. And shocking. Well written and preformed. Will share x
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He has done an excellent job I am thrilled at his performance. Such a difficult subject to cover.
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I loved it when I saw it first on Nowhere. Casey has done a splendid job once again
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Piyali thank you for coming.
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My pleasure, Ellen.
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😗😚
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Congratulations and well deserved. That pulls no punches, nor should it.
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George great to have your support. 😊
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