Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense Poem by Peter J White

for Maria Fatima Muienga
Convent de Precioso Sangwe,
Maputo


Patriarchs they say should each of us be
Compliant, quiescent, but no, not me!
Unwilling submission to rhythm and rhyme
Would bury my verse in the sands of time.
When we met I discounted that I’m growing old,
And much too stubborn to do as I’m told,
Did as God commanded all mankind to do,
Saying, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Ignoring the venomous, conjugal theme
Of suspicion that you had joined my harem.
Yet since men will thus view with jaundiced eye,
The innocent friendship between you and I
And sully your irreproachable name,
Give me your Goodbye and I’ll bid you the same.


Bulawayo, June 2005