Oh Mama Poem by Alan Kabanshi

The star fades that colors the sky
Even the horizon loses its sparkle at twilight
And age makes weak honorable vessels of use
Just like sweetest roses grow wild without pruning
But you never change
Though now tales are what remains of your beauty
But like sapphire under the midday light
So your heart shines even in the darkest night
Though entrapped under wicked storms
You never change, a woman of all times
You hold our futures, and with your breath you bless my days

Oh mama, Exemplary you lead
Treading cautiously in life's crooked path
As you reveal life's hidden truth
Cleansing us with golden wisdom of life on cursed earth
Avoiding sweetless baits of desired vanity
In poverty and turmoil
You became a lamb at the alter
Pulling time with your hard worked palms
wearing yourself deserves a bath in my psalms
Even when am choked with life's anxieties'
Am soothed with confidence of your smile
For it rebuilds every time my heart collapse
Though to you brought are follies in my adventures
Oh mama,
You never change

When am in error, Your words of counsel are swift like oil
Lubricating my heart to restore order
Your discipline a fortress in my storms, although with anguish I've gulped it
Yet desired a stature am shaped out to be
In what measure shall my shekels match your deserved appreciation?
You are a flower of the desert
Colored from sweat of pain, watered by tears of joy
Indeed as you blossom in old age
You become even more sweet and special,
like a rose on the lips of a perfumed kiss
Yes you are soft as morning light rising at dawn
For you is a legacy of hope
And those paying attention finds a healing.

2007