Vestiges

Loving Mums

44 Loving Mums Paris, May 2010 Mothers Day When I would I came to this world, Who was there to take me in? That was mum! When my foetus would it were incubated, Who stood the heat for nine long months? You bet, that was mum! When I kicked in changes in hormones, Who could for months stand this? With patience, full of hopes, mum did! When I fought my way into this weird world and caused pain, Who cried and cried out for joy and ignored the pain? Without any question, my mum! When I cried at birth, Who stood there and sang for me? That was mum! When hunger had its grip on me, Who fed me? I say my mum! When I tried to take my first steps, Who held my hands so I didn’t fall? Certainly my mum did! 45 When I was growing up and got hurt, Was there any to look after me? Yes! For sure, mum was there! When I needed fees, Who did I see for these? That was mum! So, when stubbornness raged in, Who whipped up discipline? A gain my mum! When bad boys company I kept, Who my attention drew? Just my mum! When penury came with notes of exploitation, Who refused to play drums for this stranger? Indeed my mum did! When we craved a special dish, Who made us feast? Who else but sweet mum? When at nights mares came in, Who else could hunt down our fears? It was none but mum! Mum here, mum there Ubiquitous mum! Rechristened Mami Rubber! 46 In Africa, in America. With her rubber she kept the line straight For sure, across the world When I queried what penury said, What did mum have to say? She would at midnight rooftops fly! When I questioned why? Her chords greeted my ears with, “The unseen. Mums wield power!” When I slew time, Who told me about a stitch in time? That was mum! When I thought I should laze around, Who laid the foundation of hard work? Query not this. It was my mum! When in sick bed and doctors thought me dead, Who prayed and said they were wrong? My mum did and she was right! When I shouldered leeches home, Who sucked them out of me? If not my mum, then I am wrong! When the world weighed me down, Who lifted up my soul with songs of praise? I will still tell you, that was mum! 47 When dads flopped in their roles, Who wore the crowns of thorns? Sure not dads but mums! Were mum alive and I died, Who would mourn the most? Nobody but mum who’s always been there! Even when I wounded myself and bled You won’t believe who sobbed! Both my mum and my step mum! When I quested where they their bitterness kept, None would guess what I was told, I was their child and must stay out of their fight! So, as I plodded West, questions on me hailed! They inquired about my mum And cheerfully, I talked of my mums! Curious listeners laughed out their lungs And would hang me with one last question! Mums? Yes! Every Woman in my home is a mother ...