Mama Africa
At dawn you wake
Before the cocks crow
You move with silence
The pot on your head
To the river you go
Remember...
It is still dark outside
Trips you make to the river
It is a perilous hour
The perverts are still roaming
But you go still
The sun comes
There you are
Porridge you make
Seated by the fire
No! That is not all
For your husband
You boil bath water
Prepare his clothes
Present his meal
No! That is not all
Mama Africa
Your children are all over now
They want this and that
You tend to them
One by one
Never tiring
Never complaining
You pick your digging tools
To the farm you go
To till until evening
A child on your back
No! That is not all
Oh mama Africa
Sweat streams down your face
Fatigue is eminent
Hunger is beckoning
But you go on
How strong can you be?
Mama Africa
There you are
Collecting firewood
You stoop with the load
Are you going to fall?
Your husband sits and waits
He sips the local beer
As you till and toil
Oh mama Africa
What did you do to deserve this?
You die so early
The children are left without you
No! That is not all
Mama Africa
I permit you to take a break
Put the load down
Take a break
Your eyes are red
The strain is so much
Veins protrue on your face
You cough all night long
Have you ever seen a doctor?
Who takes care of you?
Mama Africa
Your resilience is amazing
No woman is stronger than you
No woman is as dedicated as you are
No woman is like you
You define strength
No! That is not all
Jack Shaka
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mama-africa/
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