Spare us your Tears

From the womb, our mothers cry out with joy

Happy at the thought of having a daughter 

For their silent prayers have been heard 

To have someone to hold dear

And the fathers who look forward to having a daughter

Shout like a town crier on the street

Others watch, a fool they all think he is 

But they know what they seek

A daughter, a symbol of riches, love and blessings – No lies have been told

But daughters, do you know?

Mother and father shout “You are all equal in this household!”

But the brother takes the lion’s share

The daughter left with the spare

With courage, she speaks out her fears

Always, her parents are never happy to hear

An iron fist rules the life of a daughter 

Never enough care given to her 

Compulsory is her presence for everyone there 

And time changes nothing 

Her name resounding everywhere

Peace, love, comfort, she has never seen

Cruelty and negligence, all she is accustomed to

And there is nothing she can do

With everyone saying, this is the life of a daughter

To serve and sacrifice for a man

An investment for the father

A blanket wrapped around the mother 

To be a saviour to both at that time

For that is her purpose in life 

A tamed prey in her family

Where the predators can visit and slowly pick at the flesh 

By the time they are gone, there is nothing left

But her soul crying out for justice in the cold hard ground

And those by God’s grace, breath remains within their lungs

Parents, would you also let them be gone?

Would the shackles finally be taken off…

Or would you demand more

Our time

Our submission 

Our lives!

Haven’t you taken enough!

What more could you want...?

Please… spare us, spare us

Before the time is too far gone

Author's Address:

Standing with all the girls around the world who face injustice and mistreatment — we see you, and we stand by you. Let’s use our voices to spread awareness and demand change. 

Ochanya was an 8-year-old girl who was raped by her uncle and his son for five years. As a result, she died from vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) in 2018. Neither the uncle nor his son has faced any punishment. This must change. Nigerians are demanding justice, and justice must be served.

Justice for Ochanya!