The Longing Of A Mother Poem by priscah Mutswenje

I am a mother,
coming after the great creator, God
with a soul and a body
set to give and take what's forth
given the role of this worthy.

I am a mother,
nurturing and flowering the young,
nurturing the lost through a word or song,
a god to the tender legends unsung.

I am a mother,
with possible prophets, governors
and crooks alike in my motherly womb
that I bless and tease as a nurse
treasured by God to guide and guard

I am a mother,
the rock of the family
so fathers hear my prayer for the children
daughters and sons is all I have
Behind me and under me they look for my hand
to protect from confusion and ill intentions


you know my worries
you hear my wishes
you feel my plight and tears
you understand my pressure

Lord, let them be virtuous
Allow them to have full understanding
permit them to smother viciousness
and mold judiciousness
that their stars glow
stump the low
as a mother.