Lost Bond by Pinky Faith Okafor | One Poem Only

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise. Lost Bond Pinky Faith Okafor There are stories the world claims to tell, Yet, we do not hear. Stories of girls denied the gift of learning, Who live through nightmares and are not allowed to dream. Of salma–12 who watches her uncle close a business deal behind closed doors Scrubbing the blood of strangers two weeks later was how she learned It was her future which was traded. Of preta–22, Dragged into a corner by 5 boys, Who walked away with her smile and her voice. Now she stands by her window every night, Talking to the moon This is the only way she feels heard. Of every girl in my country who walks down the hill Before the sun even rises, Carrying a heavy container,And a heavier heart.dreams of desks and blackboards,Her childhood is passingOne chore, one silence, one sacrifice at a timeNo one asksNo one caresAnd when bad things happen, they ask,"What were you wearing,?""Where were you going?""Who did you go to see?"Instead of saying,"This shouldn't have happened to you."They clap for us on special daysGirl's day, women's dayBut forget to lend us a hand on all the other daysWhen we need it the most.And now,all I have to say is this:We will continue to stand tall,to dream without feareven when our dreams seem small.We will speak out,even if our voices still shake.Because silence is never an optionWe are not weak,And we will tell our stories with our own lips.More from Pinky Faith Okafor ↓@_pinkythepoet on InstagramSupport + Stay Connected to OPOIf you’d like to support the show, Substack and Patreon members receive a copy of my book, For My Daughter, along with episodes from the audiobook.Poetry slows us down. Thank you for listening.