MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME LOVE
My mother taught me the language of love,
And I wonder who taught her that?
The ones who wanted to kill her in Nana’s womb?
The one who cradled her and thought of choking her?
The ones who kept her inside the house
Rather than letting her go to school,
Dream big dreams and try to achieve them?
The ones who asked for dowry
That her family could barely afford?
The ones who told her, her job was
To cook, to clean and make babies?
The one who used her for pleasure?
Somehow she knew love
And that she needs to give love
To her daughter,
The love she never received.
She knew all this and I don’t know
How to repay her for everything.