Mummy was my first martyr

her sacrifice was marrying my father

when she should have married me

queer

in my case against the world

no bride price would have been necessary

no selling

no buying

just pure love

without question

she would have been free

to own a skin without scars

there is no lesson in this poem

except

mother's should never give birth to children they cannot marry.

By Sloane Angelou

From: Ivory Coast

Twitter: MsSloaneAngelou