Mother Tongue
Yes ma, mother tongue
my ears are not deaf to your calling
even when I am dead at night
and far I have gone in the world beyond – world ceiling
for not like others, stumbling
waddling
falling
dying
is your voice in their ears
I have wanted to die my ears
to this calling
to die it like a day old life-less infant
for even if it is animate
it could neither see nor hear
O what a powerful! Pricking my ears
your wailing a spear
Now I have prepared and I am set
to embark on the fruitless errand of yours
Listen, mother tongue
like proud-less river to my words
I have gone and I have seen her prettiness
I have moved close to her and smelt her scent
O sugary!
This strange tongue is fascinating
her luring tone is so sonorous
instant she sings
your children sleep and snore as frog
O mother tongue!
Opened are my eyes
and covered are my ears
tightened, tightened like thin can
but only your wail rooms my ears
O mother tongue!
You are a mother
whose belly is the ocean
that streams in the flesh
You are a pool of blood
which within flesh you room
Can someone dry water and blood in the flesh
so that you can be no more?
You are a mother
whose no child can tell of her beginning
You are umbilical cord
You are immortal, yet you are dying
O mother tongue!
I have prepared and I am set
to embark on the fruitless errand of yours
Listen, mother tongue
like proud-less river to my words
The children
which because of them your eyes stream
will neither listen nor ear you appalling
O mother tongue!
I am set and it is time
to embark on this errand of yours
Perhaps if their sense would sense
and their eyes would see the beauty in you
and your tone that as sweet as honey
that can never bereft it taste
O mother tongue!
If you die in their house
who will, indeed, cry if not them
in amidst of mockery eyes
or can a strange tongue be their tongue?
A wake up write for whoever cherish other culture above his or hers.
Copyright © Afolabi Muideen | Year Posted 2016
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