My Mother's Life

Oh my mother, how am I going to cope far away from home, away from the warmth of my mother? Ever so caring and protective. As I stepped into my new apartment on East State Street in Athens, Ohio it dawned on me that all along I fed on the love of my mother. Now in this empty space, love seemed far reached. Away from the source of affection. When I was with her, we always argued on matters I felt I was matured enough to handle –she always insisted I came home early, stayed indoors and stayed safe. I will always respond, “I am no more a kid”. ‘No matter how old you get, you still are a child’, she will say to shut me up. My mother’s name is Grace Awuni and unlike other children, I called her by her first name instead of the generally accepted “Maa” (mother in my language). …show more content…
You have chained me to the memory of my space
Confined me to the nothingness of tomorrow, my only purpose
Bear children and stay home. My future only goes beyond the length of you pipe
So I came to speak.

Forget about what attracts me to you
Listen to my words
I came to speak, that I too am human
That we share the same umbrella of the sun
That which melts the shea butter and eats our skin
You said, listen to a man with dignity and future
For he shall help you grace your pasture
But you found that nobleness in a monthly paycheck
Your vision was bleak that I too am a companion-a helper

And your noble men raced when the seed they planted germinated
You got scared I turn away from your help
Because I am a strong woman, I did not run
I did not destroy the perfectness out of our imperfection
In my broken soul I gave my all

Today, you scared because I never gave up
You fret because I held fast to our seed
The earth quakes beneath your feet because I begged not for your