…God, oh dear God!
Is this the worth of my soul,
To trade my dignity for a handful of bills?
Each night, I paint my lips with lies,
Walk cold streets with a mask on my face,
Inside, I crumble, my soul in decay,
Haunted by whispers of my darkest hour.
I walk the line between pleasure and pain,
Struggling to break free from chains I chose,
To auction my body to sustain life.
I am now a broken doll, a puppet on a string,
Dancing to the tune of men’s lustful demands.
My spirit crushed beneath the weight of sin,
Fighting in s-i-l-e-n-c-e with demons within.
Each transaction leaves a scar,
Emptiness consumes me, a hunger that won’t abate.
I try to drown it with each client I satiate,
But the shame remains, a stain that won’t wash away.
And I wonder…God, oh God!
How long can I endure this endless battle in the night?
Will I ever find the dawn to reclaim my light?
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Akuei Maliet Adol is a South Sudanese poet living in Kenya as a refugee for over two decades. Beyond his inspiring pursuits, Adol is a talented writer and mentor, using his wisdom to empower others. He often writes about health, peace, love, and the plight of refugees. His literary works are featured at PanLuel Wel Media Limited and Writers Space Africa [WSA] Magazine. Akuei is also the reviewer at WSA Magazine Review and serves as the moderator for WSA—South Sudan. He is an editor and co-founder of Ink of Hope Publishers in Nairobi.
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Read – To the Girl in the Mirror – A Poem by Bee Chikapa – Malawi
