A smile from east to west,
Concealing the pain inside,
Too young, yet too old,
Experience! The best teacher
A life that’s painful at best,
Explains the pain inside,
A face seeming too old,
Betrayed by permanent wrinkles
Too soon without notice,
Perhaps it’d have her warned,
Of hurdles along the path,
The girl, daughter and mother
She has to smile her best,
Despite the screams inside,
To stay strong and sound,
For the one who calls her mother
Portrait of the African woman,
Has a lot to tell and hide,
If pictures speak a thousand words,
Then take a look at my mother