New Year

The girls lined up in their prettiest dresses. 

Hair long, and shiny, and dark. 

Gentle faces, heart-melting smiles. 

Their laughter could be heard down the river and across the way…

Today would be a beautiful day. 

Celebrate old blessings and the new things to come. 

Young girls were ready. 

Womanhood had marked them in its own

haunting way.

Yet the promise it brought made this New Year’s celebration attractive.

Men lined up across,

Enthralled by the beauty of these young goddesses. 

Their bodies not quite fully developed. 

Fresh, and innocent, and ready to learn.

The first girl held the ball in her hand. 

Hands trembling.

She knew her time, her childhood, was coming to an end. 

Womanhood crashing against her abdominals,

Reminding her it was time to leave her father’s home

And to make a new name, a new family, her own belonging.

Bravery possessing her little frame,

She threw the ball to the other side.

Silence shrouded the celebrators.

Waiting for fulfillment.

Waiting for answers.

Waiting for joy.

Waiting for rejection.

She wasn’t as beautiful as the others. 

She was put first to get her out of the way.

To be someone else’s second.

She prayed to her ancestors for favour.

To be looked upon as worthy.

Worthy to make a name for her new family.

Praying for someone who would reciprocate the action.

Someone she could love.

Someone to protect her from the darkness within.

The ball falling closer to the ground.

The girl’s heart falling with it.

The man across the way caught the ball. 

He the same age as her father.

His hair slightly greying. 

His wife dying in childbirth two years ago. 

He needing someone new.

The two joined together, a purchase would be made.

His dark eyes watching, ready for her to be trained.

The ball continued to pass from girl to girl.  Some chosen, some not.

The last man in line caught the ball.

Girls met their future with a hesitant smile.

Sad goodbyes, yet exciting beginnings.

Some feeling relief, others a loss of face.

She heard womanhood’s silent whisper, and knew that the pain she was feeling was just the beginning.