No Apologies Poem by Adeosun Olamide

I know if mother
A choice had
She’d never have me
Not as her child
Nor as her servant even
She calls me
Her suffering
And poisoned my sibling
With hatred for us
But truly I love her
And have only wished her well
And truly still
I will mourn her dead
Was scared for her
He was always in the brothel
My father was tired of her
He was jaded of her company
And as a good daughter
I did right
For I unloved their split
And concerned her health too
I didn’t want her with disease
That father could from his wenches
So I put myself down
And brought him home
At whatever cost-
I lured father drunk
And put myself into him
Gods willing, a victory
But her husband was irresistible
My father was sweet well
And he desired me more
He preferred my food, new taste
And sneaked in my blanket
If mine then mother too, I thought
But my jealous mother
What she would do
She hated and lied about
Cursed and prayed against me
Yet I loved her still
But even,
She was more wrong
For my dad is mine too
And can choose his meat
My mother divorced
After several appeals
And married her malice
But am glad
I saved her a disease