A Gem Nonpareil Poem by Danladi Tauhid

A Gem Nonpareil



For every person
There is someone so dear
You could give anything
For him/her to be with you
All the days of your life
Love is an enigma
Only the Creator Himself can unravel
That explains why we can never fully grasp
Why the hen small as she is
To a cow or the like
Would never shy away
Rather than see her off-springs
Trampled under the foot of a bull
Would holler and jump at the assailant
Beak and feet tearing away
At whatever part she can attack
And as it is with animals/birds big and small
You can imagine what it would be like
Among the higher animals

I remember as a kid
When in the thick of night
Mama would have no one
Toileting in the one room we call a home
In the city of Ibadan
But would escort you to the back yard
Sit herself at a distance
As you busy yourself
All the while your being is taut
Picking out sometimes imaginary sounds
Lurking some place to prance at you
All the while mama sits there
Immobile and dignified
And patiently carries your waste
To the toilet
Oh if mamas should live so long
And into our own advanced years
A time may come that
You would feel she'd be there for ever
Even when you well know
That no one lives here for ever

I remember a day long ago
As a student I troubled her
I want a pair of sneakers like my friends
I was particular about my own
And to my joy after what seemed like a year
Momma and I went to Dugbe
A busy market in Ibadan
To buy my precious sneakers
My joy knew no bounds
Little did I care how she'd raised the fund
And momma just sold popcorn
A strong woman nonpareil
Oh Momma I miss you so!
Ever since you were gone
Life is no longer the same for me
I miss you miss you so!

When she had in old age lived with me
Coming home was a thing of joy
To find Momma in her room
She was my world everything to me
And I remember what she would say
Pray the Almighty
Would not take me from you
Yet
Though part we must someday sometime
Why I never thought of that
Was that she meant the world to me

But the glittering star began to ebb
She began to talk less and less
Sometime she would leave her room
Feel every settee in the sitting room
Sit here and there like she didn't use to do
And even sleep away on the long sofa
What she did not use to do
Oh Momma I miss you so!

The final bombshell came
The day I came back home
And my family in her room
With tears streaming down faces
And she silent and pensive
On inquiry am told
She had predicted her time
Which was just about one week
I as usual allayed their fear
Telling them Momma just don't know
What she was talking about
But she boldfaced meant it
It was time to leave
I was so naive to think otherwise
How can she predict her death?
Momma you can't mean it!

Oh Momma I miss you so!
I shall never forget the day
As I announce departure to work
Momma's face was to the wall
She feebly raised and waved her hand
Not saying anything to me
I asked is that to wave me bye
When before you'd talk to me?
I left and so certain
I shall come back to her
But it was never to be
Oh Momma I miss you so!

I loved you am a part of you
Life can never be the same again
Until we meet to part no more.

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
In memorial to Momma
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
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