Mama

‘Mama, Mama …’ I cried.
 Mama pet but I still cried.
 ‘What happen?’ She asked.
 And I pointed to the ceiling.
 She looked up,
 She saw nothing.
 ‘What happen my son?’
 Again and again she asked.
 And I cried the more.
 She clung me to her back
 And clapped the floor with her foot;
 Her mouth also sang for me.
 But I still cried
 Until I slept it off.

 Mama,
 A mother that cares,
 A mother that loves,
 The strong mother of the blacks,
 The giant woman of Africa.
 She was busy throughout the day
 Looking for firewood,
 And looking for leaves.
 See her at night
 With cocoa leaves,
 With banana leaves.
 Arranging them in order
 To wrap her corn starch.
 I slept before her
 But she wakes before me.
 When I woke up in the morning
 The maize pudding was on fire.
 In front of the fire I sat
 Warming my body
 And watching Mama
 As she wrapped  the corn starch.
 The corn starch that brought money,
 The money that trained us.

 My grandma,
 My first teacher,
 Your 1, 2, 3……… I never forget;
 Your A, B, D………. I never forget;
 Your labour of love I cannot forget.
 Mama thought of having a cover
 But the time has gone
 And the strength, no more.
 The death of a loved son
 Kills her daily.
 Don’t worry mama,
 We will still have it
 More beautiful than you imagine,
 More wonderful than you dream.
 Mama longed to see the time
 She would back my babies.
 She longed to see me
 Graduating from the school.
 She composed a song
 For the coming celebration
 But death did not allow her.
 Don’t worry Mama
 Your big dream for me,
 Your big thought for me,
 All will still come.

 My grand ma,
 A mother that loves,
 A mother that cares,
 Till her last day,
 Till her last breath.
 Her last word,
 Her dying mouth,
 Still remembered a son.
 Mama,
 Rest over there.
 Your heirs are here
 And we cherished your cares.
 May the bond of love
 Which you left behind
 Still keep us together.
 God be with us. Amen.

 *In memory of Late Mrs. Janet Aturu, my grand   mother.