A Wedding of Tears

“Come, it is time, we will be late.” She says

I look at her and close the door,

It is time,

I hear women’s voices outside my room,

Excitement is in the air,

Celebrations are underway,

I hear them say that the house of my father is happy

That I have made them proud,

Chanting blessings because of my virtue,

Then why am I not happy,

Why am I sad if the result is my father’s smile,

Water they pour on me,

Cold, to make my skin firm they say,

Slather me with perfumed oils,

Makeup on my face to hide my true emotions from the world,

Beads and golds around my neck to show favour and wealth,

My hand decorated with the best henna they could find,

In the purest of silks I am trapped,

I am beautiful,

Tears in my eyes,

They console me,

I will never be the same again,

They dance around me,

And when they leave I watch him come in

My husband,

More like my master with his greying hair,

I am to act shy and keep silent,

Look down,

While my sisters celebrate the good life I have been given,

It is a lavish affair,

And at the end of the night,

In his car I will go to my new home

To be a 16 year old wife to a 50 year old man

This is what they call life.

This was inspired by the end child marriage post I read on 17th March 2016. May we raise our voices and ensure every child has a happy childhood.