The life of an FGM Child
The life of contest16 total reviews
Comment from lancellot
Very informative post. I see that you wanted to be non-judgmental with cultural practice. To better achieve that you may want erase, the words: barbaric, mutilate and so. Also, isn't hepatitis and HIV a separate issue that affects all people FGM or not?
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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Very informative post. I see that you wanted to be non-judgmental with cultural practice. To better achieve that you may want erase, the words: barbaric, mutilate and so. Also, isn't hepatitis and HIV a separate issue that affects all people FGM or not?
Comment Written 04-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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Thanks for your review and comments. The Hiv has been from the dirty blades used in this barbaric practice, while the young children are being mutilated.
Comment from donette1914
this is a sad poem that is so real and happening to these dear little ones for no reason at all but pain. very well written and very powerful and it was a pleasure to read your work
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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this is a sad poem that is so real and happening to these dear little ones for no reason at all but pain. very well written and very powerful and it was a pleasure to read your work
Comment Written 04-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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Thanks for reading my sad poem about the barbaric happenings to innocents. I appreciate it.
Comment from Poetic Friend
Oh my goodness, this poem speaks profoundly! I've read several of the entries in this contest, and this poem is the most compelling relative to describing the life of a person, place or thing.
Your poem brought awareness to a barbaric practice of another culture and country. The poor FGM child! What mental and physical pain she endures!!
Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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Oh my goodness, this poem speaks profoundly! I've read several of the entries in this contest, and this poem is the most compelling relative to describing the life of a person, place or thing.
Your poem brought awareness to a barbaric practice of another culture and country. The poor FGM child! What mental and physical pain she endures!!
Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 04-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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Thanks for the exceptional review and your encouragement. I wanted to bring attention to the barbaric practice, it is happening, It has been done to young girls in the uk and the usa.
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In USA as well? I did not know that.
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Dr A Renee Bergstrom
Saturday 3 December 2016 13.50 GMT
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In 1947, when I was just three years old a doctor removed my clitoris. Female genital mutilation is mostly associated with African cultures, and non-Christian religions, but my FGM happened in white, midwest America. It took place in a church clinic that used a scalpel on girls who masturbated.
I remember the excruciating pain and feeling betrayed. I was told not to talk about it, but keeping the secret meant I was alone with my questions as I grew into puberty: what was missing? What would it be like to be ?whole??
At 15 I consulted a doctor regarding a tugging sensation from my scar tissue. Unknowingly, I went to the same clinic where the clitoridectomy was performed and the doctor shamed me with a booklet entitled The Sin of Self-Pleasuring.
Comment from dragonpoet
This is a horrible practice and it should never be part of a religion or society. It shows a distinct distrust and dislike for women if so many bad side effects to this girls life exist with these procedures.
Good luck in the contest.
Keep writing.
dragonpoet
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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This is a horrible practice and it should never be part of a religion or society. It shows a distinct distrust and dislike for women if so many bad side effects to this girls life exist with these procedures.
Good luck in the contest.
Keep writing.
dragonpoet
Comment Written 04-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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I totally agree with you, that is why I take this opportunity to expose it. Thanks for your encouragement.
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You're welcome.
dp
Comment from tfawcus
A powerful poem and accompanying notes explaining something of this custom that seems so barbaric to Western eyes. Being so entrenched in custom, it is hard to eradicate. I, too, wrote a poem about it a couple of years ago, based on the occurrence of it in the Afar region of Northern Ethiopia. It's buried way back in my portfolio now. Yours is more graphic and detailed. Here is mine, for what it's worth:
F.G.C.
Asunder, sad Afar, a girl adrift
Bonds of marriage planned and circumcision
Such traumatic custom, a tragic rift
That kisses death with each cruel incision
Two centimetres more Dabbahu slips
Weeping the warm pulse of labial lips
Deep into the Danakil Depression
An ancient lore, an obscene oppression
Author note
In the Afar region of Ethiopia, female genital cutting (FGC) is performed on almost every young girl, causing her to suffer multifaceted complications for the rest of her life. The maternal and infant morbidity and mortality is devastating, with each woman facing an exceptionally high risk of dying in childbirth.
The Afar (Danakil) Depression sits on a junction of tectonic plates where the Earth's crust is rifting apart at a rate of 1-2 centimetres per year. Earthquakes and a volcanic eruption in 2005 forced open a wide gap on the surface, known as the Dabbahu fissure.
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reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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A powerful poem and accompanying notes explaining something of this custom that seems so barbaric to Western eyes. Being so entrenched in custom, it is hard to eradicate. I, too, wrote a poem about it a couple of years ago, based on the occurrence of it in the Afar region of Northern Ethiopia. It's buried way back in my portfolio now. Yours is more graphic and detailed. Here is mine, for what it's worth:
F.G.C.
Asunder, sad Afar, a girl adrift
Bonds of marriage planned and circumcision
Such traumatic custom, a tragic rift
That kisses death with each cruel incision
Two centimetres more Dabbahu slips
Weeping the warm pulse of labial lips
Deep into the Danakil Depression
An ancient lore, an obscene oppression
Author note
In the Afar region of Ethiopia, female genital cutting (FGC) is performed on almost every young girl, causing her to suffer multifaceted complications for the rest of her life. The maternal and infant morbidity and mortality is devastating, with each woman facing an exceptionally high risk of dying in childbirth.
The Afar (Danakil) Depression sits on a junction of tectonic plates where the Earth's crust is rifting apart at a rate of 1-2 centimetres per year. Earthquakes and a volcanic eruption in 2005 forced open a wide gap on the surface, known as the Dabbahu fissure.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 04-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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Thank you so much for the review and for including your poem about the cruelty bestowed on innocents. Your poem is more poetic and done in great taste. mine is blunt. I want to shock to make people aware of this barbaric practice. This is being done in the Uk and Usa. Some doctors charge 10$ for it. using a blade or a knife.
Comment from Brett Matthew West
"LASSIFICATION" should be "CLASSIFICATION".
Interesting poem about a lesser known ailment.
Should make a good entry into this contest.
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reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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"LASSIFICATION" should be "CLASSIFICATION".
Interesting poem about a lesser known ailment.
Should make a good entry into this contest.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 04-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 04-Dec-2016
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Thanks Brett for the review and point out the missing letter. Much appreciated
