Mami Owon

It is so true that good mothers are rare. In the furious face of hunger, And in the ferocious jaws of sickness You have always been near. Mami Owon, This verse could have been a salutation, Expressing my love for you, Or to seek help from you, But it is not. O! My dear mother, I am penning this down in your absence Now that death has snatched you from us. I wish this was in your hands And not in the hands of some strangers Reading through this poetic letter, Making meaning of my poetic intents, Scanning through carved words- Expressing human futility. Now that your sleep When November was just five days old Has caused us to weep The thought of you Reminds me of my promise My dear mother Iya mi Owon I have never written you words To express how much I appreciated you, The confidence I had in you And how strong you had been in times of adversity. I am left with no options But to pen this at your demise. I remember that market place, I remember that Night And I still remember that day, But all these good I cannot pay you back. I remember that puddle Even though you thought I was far too young to recollect. All that pains and trauma My mind still replays the drama. Omo Olumo Omo Lisabi One when angry Scolds you with prayers, One who beats with her right hand, And draws you nearer with her left. Mami Owon I have tried in my little way To be the best that I can, I have come to realise, That all the debts I owe you None I was able to repay And even in our differences, And in the moments of pain Your courage, and your kind heart And your hope in God Were your last breath. Here we are moving on Knowing not when we shall pay our final price, Here we are still hoping, Hoping for a cure, And hoping for the winds of success To take us from here to there. But the truth remains, We were helpless To save you from the cruel hands of death But God alone knows better.