HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY

It’s been more than 3 decades she birthed me.

Three and a half decades of sweat, labour, worry

Will he grow, will he survive? Will he be man?

Living through the years with bated breath

Like in labour, will this baby come?

a single breath dancing on the tip of the tongue

awaiting the final push, for the baby to arrive and to cry

giving out that shrill note of arrival

that is joy to mothers and others.

 

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY

 

Every year, we the children, celebrate our birthdays

We come back again

To mother, it’s that day of labour, tears, pain, hope and joy

Every year, she gives birth to us again and again

Every year, we change, we become new babies.

And Mother’s worry never end

Can I ever say a worthy ‘Thank You’?

Can we thank these beautiful mothers enough?

Can any of us?

 

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY

 

While I was an infant,

I kept her awake round the clock

Even while I slept and snored big.

With cupped mouth, I suckled from her breasts

Not minding how the milk got replaced.

Now that I am grown

I still keep her awake round the clock

Even while I sleep and snore big

With bated breath, she gazes at midnight stars

Discharging words of request to her creator

To nourish, guide and guard this boy

 

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY

 

What can I say to the greatest,

most beautiful mother in the world?

Thank you? will that suffice?

I love you? will that be just right?

Maybe not. But only if Nigeria could be a good mother

We’ll all know what it is to be a good citizen.

To my Mother,

Mother in Ijebu, I say you’re the best

I love you and say a big ‘THANK YOU’.

 

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY

 

Unlike that nation called Nigeria

Battling to grow wings

With which to fly children,

 

These mothers’ wings had never been cut

And have been flying us with beautiful colours,

Birthing us on green, soft spots the year round

Mother in Ijebu (M in I),

Synonymous with Mother in Israel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother in ‘Ife’

With Ife meaning three things,

name of person (Ife), place (Ile-Ife) or thing (love).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother in Ifo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother in Jos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mothers in Lagos

 

 

 

 

Mother in Brazil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though, I’ve come to see that everyday seems to be a Mothers’ day,

but atop my voice, I say,

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY

to YOU all.