Lit-zine
JU
Trio
Helen C Mason
You’re mine.
I own you
You will do as I SAY
Don’t look
Don’t speak
You will know your PLACE
You cook
You clean
You will learn to OBEY
You’re nothing
You dishonour me
No
One
Now
Will look upon your FACE
Honour?
Home from school, unlock the doors
No one home, sigh of relief
Change my clothes, start work
No time to eat till I’ve done the chores
Clean for HIM
Wash for HIM
Cook for HIM
Yield to HIM
Nine O’clock I hear the locks
My eyes are down, I am submissive
Present his meal, present myself
The only sound the ticking clocks
He undresses me
He rapes me
He speaks to me
GO
At the table I do homework till I sleep
Spelling test tomorrow
I am 10 years old, a child bride
My name is Yasmin and I weep and weep and weep
Child Bride
My brother he has games and toys
Is this how it is for other boys
Books, pens, paper, computer
Prayer books: A private tutor
I have a skipping rope
My brother will become a man
For him our father has a plan
A future, a job and then a wife
He’s being groomed to succeed in life
I am allowed to skip
I have been taught to clean and cook
Not to write, not to read a book
If I were a boy I’d live in the light
Mother says “this is our way, this is right”
I skip
Tomorrow I will be sent away
It is to be my wedding day
Dowry arranged; I am sold
I am only 12 years old
I skip for the last time
Salt Mustard Vinegar Acid
Salt Mustard Vinegar Acid
Skipping Rope
Helen C Mason (a child of the 60s) has an irreverent sense of humour and uses it to good effect in her verse. That is not to say that she does not have a serious side and has written many controversial poems on human rights.
Her third collection of very funny poems is available on Amazon.
