Grey Area

I have asked severally
cried my eyes to ears
which water is to wash hands
if I’m to eat with the elders?
“when you grow, you’d know”
I woke with a map on my lap
older than peeing, I asked to
know what the dry pap is
“when you grow, you’d know, but
don’t play rough with any girl.”
Hassan’s mum said the same
last month, he was on Twitter
as an accused.
the suspense is why Dele
learnt what sex is from rape
and Nkechi wasn’t spared
“don’t tell your mummy”
it is why “no” is not tacit
for mummy and daddy are
too sacred to discuss sex.

Tomide Abdul