My Mother's Sister Poem by Ebenezer Ampadu

My mother's sister
Wealthy
Full of life
Great beauty
White and sun
Worshipped by your spawn
Lovely mother
Kitchen filled with treats
Bellies full!
Freedom was your seed
O, beautiful!
O, mother's sister!
Your name was — life!

O beautiful!
Did you fall?
Why are you silent?
Were you strangled?
Did you die?
Cries over horizons!
Cries over mountains!
Cries across oceans and seas!
Cries across plains!
Cries across fields and deserts!
Suffering!
Scene of bickering
O, anguish!
O, mother's sister!
Your name was — suffering!

Mother of sons
Fetters!
Forced against his will
Tears!
Strange deeds!
Cruelties!
Then the orphans
Chaos!
Bedeviled son of your old sister
Blood-filled streams!
Blood-filled marshes!
Blood-soaked garments!
Blood-soaked plains!
O, sorrow!
O, mother's sister!
Your name was — bloody!

Mother's friend
Hope across the horizon
Rising with the sun
Mixed nuts!
Togetherness!
Laughter!
Fading lines
Strength!
Mightier with every breeze
Happiness!
The return of peace
Ruler of the earth
O, greatness!
O, mother's sister!
You are earth's - hope!


Ebenezer Ampadu
(Worcester, MA 2021)