Poetry

My Reminiscences

By A.K.G.

Once upon a time…

so innocent a babe I was as I came into this world.

A daughter, the pride of my folks, they were really proud

never thought to become a juvenile delinquent nor a dunce

or lead anybody, dominants and dominies alike, a pretty dance

With what appeared to be silly and absurd rules they did reign.

More don’ts than do’s, like “Don’t play under the rain.”

Anything to the contrary led to a harsh punishment.

To moral behaviour supposedly it was a nourishment. 

“More power to your elbow! Make obedience a practice.”

But no! All meant nothing and was beneath my notice.

‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating’ one of the ‘old school’.

By gad! How I honestly wish that I had kept my calm and cool.

I guess the onlooker sees most of the game wherever he be.

Look at me now lamenting, wishing, if only … then … maybe.

Every fibre of mine has broken gradually, piece by piece.

I’m left to fake and feign that I would fain have my peace.

Is it I, or the world which is churlish and cruel?

Back then it mattered not if for dinner was gruel.

But now as I meditate upon the past years

grief engulfs me amid uncontrollable tears.

But hope is not lost for I’ve got a new resolve.

The puzzle of life likely to identify and solve

My losses and profits are about equal so my soul sings.

What you make on the roundabouts, you lose on the swings.

Though my name has been dragged through the mire

My personality is still intact for all to admire.

Flower Deflowered

By J.M.

My brokenness hurts

tears well in my eyes

The archaic hand of culture 

cut away my blossom

And no one, absolutely no one, sees my tears

or cares as I grieve

My pretty bloom matter not:

Petals fall.

My nectar, sweetest part of the flower, 

Hidden in the secret place

Where no one reaches without sweet words or music,

Is spilt; brutalised.

Oh, sweet nectar, you are gone forever.

The stigma I will ignore

I stand and the fight starts 

Stops with me.

My daughters will not suffer

The cold-eyed slice.

Mountains echo with my war cry

My agony; the deflowered flower.

My Sun Will Rise

By B.K.

When I was a teenager

Mama warned:

Invest to the fullest daughter

Knowledge is power

Fulfil dreams

You are an eagle

Later I became a youth

Mama warned again:

Remember a foolish pretty face

Private parts suffer most

My child - stay focused

The sky is the limit – fly – you can do it.

But lust got the best of me

I heard folks say

'Twas sweeter than honey

So I badly wanted to try

Tempted

I forgot Mama’s warnings

Oh, oh, oh

The sound of the sweet scream

The whole night

As I felt the thick layer tear

Goodbye childhood

And my life was never the same

They all wondered

What was underneath?

What made my eyes sparkle?

What is the fragrance?

More so, my wit surprised ‘em

Men followed

Couldn’t resist my teasing mystery

Pride and beauty?

Brains?

Yeah, you are right

But the greatest of all

Feminine grace

'Tis what I possess

But my 21^st chapter

Read a different story

Within a blink of an eye

All my dreams, hope and love

Were shattered into pieces

Incredible how fast it happened

Its folly to fight the infinite right?

But wise to leave this battle

For infinite God

My fate is in his hands

I am a woman

An eagle

And my sun will rise again

For I was Made by Thee

By D.B.

Walking in the street under the sunlight

My mind drifts back to that night

I look at who I am this moment

I don't care how people comment

For I was made by Thee.

I made my mistakes and I have changed

I deserve to be given a second chance

I meditate about my future

Now my life has a good structure

For I was made by Thee.

I fell apart so many times

But I managed to keep my smile

They pulled me down into the dirt

I got up with pride and dusted off my shirt

For I was made by Thee.

Principles are what keep me going

Knowing I have a life worth living

Those I know can turn their backs

For me, I will keep running this track

For I was made by Thee.