Innocence
Innocent they say,
Is what I’m meant to be.
The grass is green and the skies are blue,
All that you tell me, I accept is true…
If it’s otherwise, I don’t have a clue!
Innocence they say,
In me, they promise to protect.
The gates to the house have guards,
The doors open with electronic cards.
These and more gadgets are usual family fads.
Innocent they say,
As I bloom within my adolescent years…
The swaying walk patterns and curves appear…
I can no longer sit legs akimbo or walk bare,
Now some older men tremble and young men stand and stare.
Innocence they say,
From the young should not be snatched,
By the many worries that plague the land.
Or unwittingly by Parents, who fail to understand,
That I don’t require life’s pleasures, to be so grand.
Innocent they say,
And constantly reminded, I must remain…
A cultured young lady prim and proper,
To care for others, and to make supper…
I wasn’t purposed to be just a show stopper.
Innocence they say,
Like the white lily, is chaste and pure.
From generations till now, these standards,
drummed in our heads, so we don’t birth bastards,
That roam the streets as well as our yards.
Innocent they say,
In verbose propaganda and lofty pamphlets I see,
But lipservice to my plight they pay.
They don’t fulfil pledges to keep predators away,
Nor do they stop them from making me their prey.
Innocence they say,
In the young, untarnished it must remain.
In me, with all they have, they would guard,
But, here I am raising my voice and lifting up placards,
Fighting for rights on my own, isn’t it sad?
I’m one of the Innocent and you’ll permit me to say,
You let us down, made us rot and let our standards decay.
As you can see, a hard price society has started to pay,
For allowing our innocent’s innocence be stolen away!
©️Ayo Jaiyesimi 2022
About this poem
This poem reflects on the rights and protection of children and youth in Africa, especially the girl child. There are many societal norms on how the girl child should be brought up, her place in society as she grows into womanhood, what is expected of her and her dilemmas. The poem challenges carers and advocates to go beyond the gadgets, colours brochures and propaganda, to provide tangible interventions and support that impact the critical mass. Also, it reflects on how, unprotected youths can in turn become a social and economic embarrassment. more »
Written on 2022
Submitted by My_Poetry_Ayo on May 08, 2024
- 1:53 min read
- 4 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | Abccc Axddx Axxee Axfff Aghhh Axiid abaaa Agxix aaaa x |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,839 |
Words | 377 |
Stanzas | 10 |
Stanza Lengths | 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 1 |
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"Innocence" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/187329/innocence>.
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