'WILL TELL THE WORLD ABOUT YOU

She was wrinkled, but I loved her,

I often wondered why mine was grey haired,

 When I looked around  the mothers in school meetings

 Her hands were feeble but they held me not to a fall,

Her strokes never missed, Her words were heavy pills,

I admit I was frustrated, when she slowed my pace as we walked the street,

I was ashamed they called her old while I called her 'Mother',

I thought her lazy when she held my hand to rise or struggled to rest her side,

She looked on from the shade with a stick in hand,

As I I lit the firewood and blow the embers with teary eyes,

I hated the plain soup and daily menu of yam flour,

I resented what she gave and longed for all she never gave.

She knew I filled the earthen pot, there  in the thunderous rain,

Followed the women to farm to gather wood for fire,

Not a hug, not a kiss,

She neither read nor wrote, but showed her face all around the school,

she stood till the dead of nights, as I read with the kerosene lamp,

My mouth arched from her slap, when it failed to say amen to Her prayers,

I cursed when she failed to buy a dress , but made me save to buy a book,

I laid on the doctors bed covered with pox,

Heard Her talk of a certain girl, how She lost Her mother to death,

She begged the doctor for my life, I was scared to see her scared.

Then I knew She was all I had,

And all she gave was all She had,

She saw the journey that laid before me,

She knew Her time was near,

She prepared me right ahead though it caused me pain

And made Her heart bled even though the world didn't see,

She did it with all Her all and love

She was my grandmother, the Hands that nurtured me,

And I will Tell The World About Her.

Reviews

[Mifa]

Nice one Biodun. It's not often one gets to read a poem written about one's grandma. I really enjoyed the honest behind this verse and I must commend you for the authenticity of the flow. The poem never felt forced and I particularly enjoyed the simplicity of choice of words used.

I've got to say, my favorite line is this:

"My mouth arched from her slap, when it failed to say amen to Her prayers",

It has the tinge of humor but also gives a sense of how dedicated the grandmother was not only to her wards educational growth but also to her spiritual growth.

The poem is well rounded. It's touching and deep. Good one. Keep writing. And welcome to writers cafe.

[Abioduun]

Thank you Mifa, for reading and the review.

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Wow, this is beauti-ful! It's written in such an honest and heartfelt way, it must be about its writer.Thank you for sharing!

[Abioduun]

Thank you for reading and for the review.

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

You're most welcome!