We wear the same skin
she could be a sister, auntie
any of the faces you see regularly at church
sure she's someone mother, someone's wife
but to me that sunny day
she was Lucifer with a smile
I had sat there in hope of the best care
she approached, uniformed and businesslike
this is a pre-op procedure she informed
her name badge read Ruby
but she was not Ruby Tuesday and I was not going to miss her
I need to drop a few drops, she said
and with that, she lunged at my lower eyelid
I felt nails grip that soft skin and a firm hard pinch
I felt the kind of pain that makes grown men cry
I recoiled sharply with a loud gasp
oh! did that hurt, she inquired, a smirk on her face
look, I've got to put the drops in, she said
I looked at her perplexed, in pain, speechless
I've had this done at least fifty times before
no one had gripped my eyelids with their nails and pinched
braving up, I offered my face again
what a bad mistake
for this time her nails knew the traction and twist required
the pain to me was double its former
my skin broke, she had drawn blood
look, she said triumphantly, you are bleeding
The long/short was I couldn't proceed with what I came for

Ruby was a stranger, though we wore the same skin
I had never met her before, much less cause her any harm
yet only God will know the pain Ruby inflicted on me
all I said to her was 'God will help us'
I know why she did what she did, I could hear her Master's voice
I cannot blame her only pity her
it is a theme that runs through centuries
it is from brutality that one learns how to brutalise
and bloodshed can easily become blood sacrifice
Our mothers no longer breed or own their off-springs
we all no longer speak our mothertongues
and wearing the same skin merely means its you or I
Ruby as thousands of others has to do anything to survive
'God will help us' I said to her,
I meant that earnestly.....