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.