Photo provided by Martin Norwood
Mama Mzazi [Mother who produces offspring]
It was not long ago I held little hands, and taught him to walk
Cupped his face and corrected his dialect.
He’d look up at me and show little white teeth
Then repeat
What mama just told him.
~I placed that memory in my heart~
The sun would awaken to
Her-eyes-on
Him
And kiss his skin
All day…as he played
With sticks
And rocks
Clay stuffed bottle tops…
A ball I’d got…
~I placed that memory in my heart~
One day, strangers came
Though we all looked the same
Shots rang
I grabbed my joy
And held him tight
A man and I began to fight
Then he stole my joy from me
~I placed that memory in my heart~
He gave my baby a rifle
And shoved him to take aim
The hurt and fear within his eye
Has riddled me with pain
But I know if he won’t do as he’s told
They’ll just as quickly free his soul
I nod and close my eyes
He does the same
Lifts his rifle…then takes aim
Releasing one where I placed his memories
……They disperse……
---- Theresse Bynum
This is one of those poems that is beautiful, in skill and expression, but tragic, in message. And it is happening as we speak. Ms. Bynum shared this link with me, and I think it is up to us to be aware. Pray for these affected souls.
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
You can't help but cry writing it, reading it. The way you centered it puts emphasis on the impact words. I actually said to myself I would allow my children to do it if it ment they could live...then I thought, live to do what? Sad either way. Thanks for spreading the message even further.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing it....and yes it is truly sad either way. Hopefully one day we will live in a world where this kind of senseless violence and corruption of innocence does not exist...or at least our children...or maybe our children's children *sigh*
ReplyDelete