Letter to a Child

My dear,
needless of asking, “How do you feel?”
Because, I already know how you feel.

You feel, and it is true,
that you have a voice,
but can't speak;
and not that you can't speak,
but your comments
are not regarded,
and are taken as puerile,
or an insult to your elders.

However, this shouldn't deter you.
Rather, it should make you strong.
Because, tomorrow is for people like you.
So, save yourself, save posterity.

Save yourself
by never
indulging in crime,
for its end is cruel.
Never lose hope,
for tomorrow
is too bright for you
as a bright child
like the brightness
of the star.

Mind you!
We,
adults,
are all victims
of one abuse or another
by the members
of our families,
but our world
yet never ended.

Remove
any sadistic mind
or cruel mind
or confused mind
or bitter mind
or complex mind
from your mind and thought
occasioned by your abuser
for his days
were of wars and warring.

Now that you experience these cruelties,
you must exhibit love,
not limited to those you know,
but to all the world's people
and never think of how
you can sort out the feelings
to love again.

Feelings that result from abuse
should be obscured forever
and never should it be exhumed again
but it is necessary to share the pains,
but not in retaliation.

Hope you heard me?
This is a speech delivered by Odimegwu Onwumere, a Poet/Author and Media Consultant, the Founder of Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on 26th May, 2010, in marking of the year's Children's Day ( May 27 every year). Contact: +2348032552855. Email: [email protected]