Abigail, Anna, Sandra,
… Eve’s daughters…
You do the impossible,
Unpredictable, unheard of;
You have ventured into unknown territory
Like serpents slithering on rough terrain.
Sandra, you met James at university
A tall, skinny young man
Who could easily be swept away
By a strong wind.
Two years into marriage,
James’ flat tummy bulged
And his shoulder muscles swelled
Marking a life of peace,
Good living and utmost care.
Seven years into marriage,
Anna remained barren;
Her husband’s eyes
Started roving like that of a chameleon
While tongues wagged
Within the husband’s clan
Advocating for the substitution
Of the fruitless woman.
In solitude,
Anna knelt behind the bathroom door
With tears streaming down her face
She made silent prayers to The Almighty.
Ten years later,
She held a bouncing baby boy in her lap.
Abigail bore five girls in succession;
The husband’s clan
Soon murmured complaints
Who will then extend the clan’s name?
Samson, her husband, listened with interest
And soon found himself a mistress.
Abigail cried out to God in prayer
Two boys followed in succession
Selling vegetables,
Sewing clothes for sale,
All her children off to school,
They went.
The gods smiled on her
The children excelled.
After years of hard work;
Her home brimmed with doctors, engineers,
Teachers and scientists,
Samson heard the news
And returned home.
WOMEN – You are the Game Changers!
Ms Precity Mabuya is a writer and poet whose works are featured in the Zimbabwe Women Writers anthologies. Her book, ‘Akula Qili elazikhotha emhlane’ won second prize in the Zimbabwe Children Literature Foundation Competition in 1998. She writes in English and Ndebele. A seasoned arts administrator and school teacher, Ms Mabuya also teaches IELTS. Her interests include reading, writing, travelling cooking and sewing.