She Said: by Sekou

She said:

Conquer my mourning at night, heed my cry.

I will lay my head on your promises
Muster courage to stay still,
I will lend my eyes to the unseen
And faithfully surrender when you blind my eyes
To the seen, that in my lifetime should remain unseen
And will break into song to the sound of your voice,

I will rejoice when you bring him home
When you have heeded my ‘mourning at night’,
Of a husband long gone to fend for our children.
At high noon, a somber grey cloud of sorrow engulfs me with
Questions unbeknownst to me; has he been making it out the
Earth’s belly alive? Have the city lights done away with
Every moral fabric that stands him upright before you, King?
Does he sling a rifle on his shoulder and take drugs to smother
His shame? Questions unanswered taunt me at day,
in ‘my mourning at night’, where sleep evades my eyes
and tears will not stop falling.

I call him a husband. You call him a son and they call him a Zama Zama.
If your precious stones are for all mankind,
Why do others die so that others benefit off of them?
Why are others stripped off dignity and honor?
It was poverty that took him there and not the greed.

My joy is clothed in a black robe, hope obliterated by fear,
Father, conquer my dark of day and incessant ‘mourning at night’
Where another day has passed and I know naught of his life.

I will lay my head on your promises
Muster courage to stay still,
I will lend my eyes to the unseen
And faithfully surrender when you blind my eyes
To the seen, that in my lifetime should remain unseen
And will break into song, at my husband’s homecoming
For I will know that it will be the work of your hands.

I am an African MOsotho man who appreciates poetry; sharing mine, reading others’ and just listening to the next person’s thoughts.