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Oh Virtuous
Matriarchs
(A Tribute To African
Women)
By Uche Nworah
Oh virtuous matriarchs
Daughters of our fathers and children
of our mothers
Lucky and happy are the land from
whence you came.
You are filled with anointing
And blessed by the One who breathed
life into you
Your heads overflow with the balm of
Gilead
Your brows are like burnished bronze
Your smiles as soothing as the rising
sun
We watched you toil day by day
With your children tied to your backs
You chose to gather and refused to
scatter
Your children and maidservants live
in abundance
Your husbands stand tall
We watched you glide about the
compound
Like the beautiful gazelles that you
are
With your Jigida tied around your
bosom
And Nzu adorning your skin
As we sing praises of your gait
Our thoughts overwhelm us
Our hearts are laden with guilt
And we ask
What can we do to ease your pain
We visited the market square and
there you were
On our way back from the stream
You stood by for us to pass
With your earthenware pot on your
head
As we arrived home
There you were in your hut
Stoking the dinner fire
And we looked into your face
Your smile still shone
As flames flicker
And flowers wither
Your souls falter
Our hearts race
Little by little
But now we know
Though ages it took
You deserve our praise
O virtuous matriarchs
Mothers of our children
And wives of our fathers
Honoured and blessed are you
And long may He keep you
For Nne’m Amaka Nworah and Nwunye’m Uche Nworah, and to
all African women on the occasion of the
International Women’s Day 2007
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posted 6 March 2007 |
