The Girl With The Nigerian Tattoo

 

Sometimes, she heard them whisper

A laugh, a jeer or two

Some bigots nicknamed her “sister”

The girl with the Nigerian tattoo

 

They said she had an ugly face

Something out of a cartoon

Her reputation spread from place to place

As the girl with the Nigerian Tattoo

 

It was her first year as a foreigner

In London she was, for school

She hated what they were calling her

“The girl with the Nigerian Tattoo”

 

She packed her bags and ran away

They searched for her; Night and day

Posters on the walls, pictures on the news

“Looking for the girl with the Nigerian Tattoo”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Not exactly a Nigerian Tattoo as only certain tribes in Nigeria and Africa gave/give/use/used tribal marks. Although that tradition is rapidly fading, i find it quite interesting. Truth is i'm glad i don't have any and i will never give my children any. I've been fortunate enough to travel and study abroad a good number of times and while i've never really been racially abused or stereotyped i've seen it happen to people. This is not really a poem about racism, it's more about stereotyping on any kind: racial, religious, gender, e.t.c..

Reviews

[Cassy Samuels]

wow....that was touching, my fav line "The girl with the Nigerian tattoo"...Thank you

[dunnia]

sorry forgot to rate

[dunnia]

wow this is a beautiful piece... adding this to my favorites :)

[Tomi]

Thank you dunnia

[dunnia]

your welcome :)

[Onyia-Ali, Kingsley Chu..]

eeeeh!, while Nigeian tatto, while reading this poem, the mental pictures flows vividly in my mind, i had a sense of pity on the young girl, who appreciate not the name. well done.

[Coyote Poetry]

People fear what they do not understand. Tattoo are important to many cultures in our world. The story was sad. People who speak negative to what they fear. Need to learn silence. Thank you for sharing the powerful story. It was a sad ending.
Coyote

[Leslie Philibert]

A good observation, well explored in a fine piece of writing. Like it.

[Patricia B. Hepler]

When someone births a stereotypical view towards another, the pain is tangible and overwhelming for the recipient.
Excellent, exceptional write.