The Girl Child

I am who I am

I do not want to be known by my father's name or my husband's name

I do not want to be discriminated because of my genitals

I do not want to be stereotyped

I do not want to be in the orphanage home or in the drains after I am born

I want to be loved like a human being

I want to be treated as an equal

I want to be given opportunities

And I want to be born

Who Am I?

I am the discarded gender of my society

And today I stand here representing the girl child on National Girl Child Day

Let me be born

Let me strive

Let me live

Let me breathe.