Lalinah
Pain pierces endurance barriers
silence orchestrates the mood
waterfalls leak from eyes
Y me? Y now? but, but how?
she screams tearing flesh internally
blaming trust anointed by her mother
"my father uses his penis as a baby sitter"
snatching childhood from me lalinah
I befriended loneliness while sinking in quicksand's
of torturing flashbacks
My mother voiceless
her skin speaks of wounds, scars, tears
carved by sjambok, belt, fists of my father
she drowns herself in a lake of brew
stalking memories breaks her layers down to
meaningless breath-taking her to aisles of death
My voice tamed by photographs taken before
father lost his job, before hell scattered our home with demons
I lalinah begged hope to scream for help
yet till this day I wait in fright of tomorrow
"lalinah my child"
"Yes mother"
"Forgiveness is held hostage by time demanding a ransom,
just hang in there child help is on the way"
"But, but, but when mother"
"Honestly speaking I don't know child"
"But till that day reveals itself lets cling to our faith"
Copyright © Thabang Ntsie Spaten | Year Posted 2015
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