I still see you the same reflection as when you were still here,
When you were with us all year round
Cajoling and jesting us into womanhood,
Guiding Martha and myself through the mysteries,
The intrigues and the mystics
Of being of the fairer sex.
I still see you and feel you with vivid clarity
Though in my dreams,
Constant reveries in which your smile is radiant
And your eyes bright too,
Just like all was before.
Had you still been here with us, dearest Mother,
I could have told you all about him
With an open heart.
About this man who renders my nights sleepless.
Sometimes he fondles my heart with so much love,
It is suffocating.
The man who bothers my dreams
With abusive language.
Poking fun at the small of my back
And posing problems
to my innocent womanhood.
I could have told you everything about Madondo
Who calls me insolent,
In the wake of my questioning his faithfulness.
I recall everything you told me about them
And about marriage,
Mother, everything,
Including that sometimes
They are so loving and so caring
We want to die for them,
And that sometimes
They are so hard and so cruel to us,
So much of an indifferent attitude
That we wish them dead, instead.
Your words still ring clear and superior
In my tormented ear,
You told me that while marriage,
Is supposed to be a lap of luxuries,
It often calls for supreme sacrifice and compromise.
Let me tell you this,
That comes from deep down, Mother.
Say it all to you, before you decide
Never to come into my dreams again.
I love him deeply the way
A woman who was taught well
By her own loving mother, loves.
I cherish this marriage,
Even though he bashes me
From time to time about this, that
and the other.
For what is my womanhood,
Without him offering me the love that he is capable of?
What is motherhood without our two daughters,
The beautiful gifts bestowed upon us by The Lord?
Obey Victor Chiyangwa is a writer, poet and Lecturer in Literature In English. Obey has contributed poetry to the Independent Newspaper, The Newshawks, The Queensdale Observer and other publications. Obey is also a regular blogger, businessman and social commentator. His poetry and short stories seek to provide humor, education, awareness, entertainment and socio-political, socio-economic insight to a society bogged down by the need to survive to the next meaningful meal, another hopeful morning.
The contributory author of Chronicles From Africa is also a professional editor and instructor in the penning of poetry, short stories, biographies and novella. He can be contacted on obeychiyangwa2018@gmail.com and on Facebook and @wekwachiyangwa blog.