Leaving

Father left, 33 was she- The mother who had raised five children single handedly Three left the country, Now left with her are just me and my brother, see? Mother closed her shop So we can focus And to stop work is our job, Now we're living in our new house. Brother's in his last year at school, He's a clever boy who excelled, In studies, subjects are all A's too, In life, such ambition he propelled! Brother got this letter; It was from a good university overseas, Joyous and jumped he was sure, 'Till mother halted and reasoned with the fees. Mother got angry and told him not to leave, Brother got angry because he could not believe, That she let him write those letters since- That decision to begin with wasn't his? Now mother got sad and kept to herself, Now brother went silent and drowned in his novel, With tea in cups fresh from the shelf, I pour it out to the emotions that prowl. I took brother with mother for counselling, "Good chance! Good chance!", the counsellor said. Good and we were done with our prospecting, Over 3000 shillings did mother work to get. Mother told him "Don't forget your roots!" "Not with English women shall you be laid!" I gave a smile sweet like fruits, "Goodbye, brother", I said. One day has passed since he left for the West, Now I'm the only daughter to compensate for the rest, Now I'm the only chick left in its mother's nest, Now I'm the only child to keep mother at her best. With time, mother's lines on her face deepened, With time, mother got bigger, With time, mother went silent, With time, mother still smiles (quiver), With time, mother still smiles like the picture, With time, mother still makes prayer, With time, mother still loves us forever.