Memories Poem by Phillip Nine Mafunga

There is things I would've loved to say
Like those genuine love whispers
Long, sweet and reassuring from my maternal past
Hidden in my mothers' names given at birth; deep futures.
Their life stories encased therein even as their life stories played out.

MPANDE
The root that never was to see the noon of the day
Even as the children, never to mention the word: for it was sacred!
Memories and stories so blurred
Posterity that would have but blared
Snuffed out in the like manner; emptiness we stared.

LONYAKA
In my life, so ever in the present
To many lives, so ever relevant
The embodiment of love and calmness
The great teacher without the whip but the great Book
She manufactured peace without the hook.

SIBABAZILE
The least that became such a tolerant unifier
Having grown up without one, mothered many herself
With her supernatural gifting, many saw better days in their lives
From her I learnt the surprising power of making others smile again
To us her sons, we knew of no nonsense IRON LADY; yes, she was tough!

LADY
Even as I write, instinctively have to look over my shoulders
The most well groomed of them all
Sharp with the tongue and not slack with the whip
A real goal getter; wonder what she would've achieved if she had the book.
A woman who lived well ahead of her times.

ESNATH
Whatever the name means; the beauty of empathy epitomized!
The only mother I could emotionally connect with
She was the sweetest of all Tsheza spirits
She was the only one that would deal with my tantrums because she had none herself
To me, she was mother, sister, and friend always.

SINDISIWE
Blessed with a short stature
Expressing emotions with great emphasis was her nature
She had to make sure all her friends and neighbours knew who I was whenever I visited her
Boisterous and expressive and yet so accommodating and understanding to us children
When in trouble, some of us knew where to find refuge!

Mariatha
Ma, like Lady, the expression of Tsheza beauty and groom
Expensive looks that betrays love unmeasured there under
A woman of well-measured words
Words designed to trigger calculated outcomes
I wish she lives long to teach our daughters grooming.

Violet
Nka, the flower that blooms with vivacious beauty
Her laugh is infectious
Her voice is lively and uplifting
Always friendly and sisterly
A gift of beauty all hidden in her voice.
4 May 2021