"Shores of gender insanity" by Oyebade Timileyin Tobi

Upon a land called Earth,

Wherein my fibrous head saw light,

There rolled a ball of thought,

Its players, all taken in visual blight.

Awaking me were Laws of Nature,

Entrapping me in habits which are not mine,

The skirted little puppets, no way!

I wouldn’t mind a playground of landmines.

I grew up,

A stranger to myself,

Stiffened and hushed within,

The voice of myself.

I had not the muscles of the Gladiators,

Nor the stature of James or Andrew, but

A craving lingered upon my chest,

To do what they do.

I took the shovel, the bow and the Sword,

Alas! They were withheld from me.

“Leave it for the men,“ I heard each time,

Thus I awakened the hidden me.

I wouldn’t be treated like a fragile package,

Nor allow the men build my castles,

Nay! They will not prune my garden

Yea! I will lift my heavy parcel.

I will not be the victim of tears,

“Men do not cry,” so I heard,

I will not resort to being the Neck or Body,

I will be the Head.

Years of being me

Are spent in vanity,

Washing away my beauty and gait,

Stranded upon the shores of gender Insanity.

Oyebade Timileyin Tobi is a 400-level student of the Department Of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty Of Veterinary Medicine, University Of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.