By Ada George
Sitting by the fire,
Watching the pot of ofada,
Cook over the tripod charcoal cooker.
Salivating over the aroma
With the secret ingredients
That Mother stirs in
To make the taste linger
After licking every finger.
Old Woman waddles to us –
Mother and me.
Lowering her sagged frame
Gingerly on her third-leg.
Mother greets doubling –
My body’s stiff not doubling;
Old Woman, the reason for Mother’s misery.
Mother’s failure to bear a male child,
Old Woman has punished:
Bringing in Young Wife,
Few rainy seasons older than me.
She carries a son and laughs loudly.
She talks with her eyes and throws insults.
For mother and me her lips hold disdain.
“If not for her,” crows Old Woman,
“Family’d be shut down –
When everyone’s gone.”
Father says little but,
His actions say much.
I’ seen the twinkle of his eyes when Young Wife’s around,
I’ seen something move in his wrapper when she appears
I’ seen meat portions he sends to her hut.
At night, I hear her moans echoing through.
Three males in two years,
Father’s loins full of male seeds,
No longer have time for Mother.
Channelled to pouring into New Wife
His time and energy
Male seeds to produce.
I lie awake many nights listening to New Wife’s joy.
Wondering why Mother receives not male seeds;
Pondering deeply why she takes the insults.
“Did you add the efirin?”
“Yes, I did.”
“And a little pepper”
“Yes, I did.”
Satisfied, she rises twitching with pains of aged-hood.
Mother stirs the pot,
Takes out her portion and mine;
Sends them to our hut.
From her brassiere, she takes something powdery.
Sprinkling and stirring; her voice rang out,
‘My mate, come and dish food for our husband, mama and your own.’
And new wife serves them all!
HAnty Hanne
By Ada George
HAnty HAnne ‘ate little kids.
HAnty HAnne landed in court.
All the people gathered together.
“Why, my dear?” cried shocked Judge Bush.
“I ‘eat the kids with little sticks.”
All the teachers fell back in revulsion,
Mothers and fathers dropped their jaw in horror,
Everybody in court g-a-sped in repulsion.
Then at once stood school proprietor
To explain in words what it is that happened
It took a while for shocked Judge Bush
To understand
That poor HAnty HAnne
Has speech defect.
.Wednesday, January 6, 2016
