A Mother's Love Poem by Gabriel Mapati

Like a hen on its eggs she comforted me.
All my life such love has never been shown to me.
This kind I only received from one person.

Day and night she did not sleep.
With an eagle's eye she watched over me.
With prayers she showered me.
Watching me to see if what I needed I had.

For so many years I never acknowledged her love.
I did not understand.
The pain I felt when she said "No" broke my heart.
I thought it was hate.
If only I knew it was love.

The first words I could utter were her name.
Her name Mama
What I ate she worked for.
What I wore she bought.
Yet I did not acknowledge that.
I was too young, too naive and too blind.

I was too blind to realise I had two parents
Yet only one was always there for me.
I was too blind to see her heart break every time I shed a tear.
Too blind to see the trouble she went in to keep me safe.
I was too blind to notice the fights she lost and won just for me.

The permanent scars she has on her face and breasts are mine.
Crying and screaming I forced my nails into her skin.
Yet she still held me close.
Held me close to help overcome my anger.

In the spectator stands she shouted at my school.
Praising me even when the other children beat me.
She was always at my corner.
Her comforting hugs I had constant supply of.
Yet all this time I was still too blind.
Too blind to see love,
Too blind to see a mother's love.