Untimely Motherhood Poem by Adams Elizabeth Oyarese

A man who lived every bit of thirty
Professed his love for me
And I a girl not more than seventeen
Believed his words to be

He claimed to be what he was not
And wasted my youthful years
My trust I gave a mighty lot
So young and full of tears

A mother's burden upon my head
Two sons for him I bore
Daily I strive to get our bread
He left me nothing more

If add I now to that man's seed
This hungry mouth of mine
Three hungry mouths I have to feed
With bread and meat and wine

I live a life of daily struggle
Wondering what was my sin
Was it to love and be so humble?
Was it to be naive?

Daily I rise to grow the soil
And provide all we lack
With effort and with sweat I toil
For the sun taunts my back

I look at my boys and tend to wonder
If grow them boys to men
To seek the whereabouts of their father
For they know I am no hen

Would I say he was a good and bad
Who left me in my prime?
Or say me that my love he had
At once upon a time?

Would I tell of how much he did lie
To make me spread my legs?
Or lie to them that he did die
Not knowing of my eggs?

What better words have I to say
To make them learn of him?
I think and rethink everyday
Yet no good word defines him

I hope a hope against all hopes
That my sons live good lives
And never thread their Father's ropes
For they ought to love their wives

By: Adams.O. Elizabeth