The Road To My In-Law's Place (Part 2) . Poem by Stewart Annie Everestus

THE ROAD TO MY IN-LAW'S PLACE (Part 2) .

By Dr. Dinneya, Founder, TEDA

Drums beat in synch with cadenced movements
Of long lines of uniformed wide-waist women ushering in
Mother-In-Law trailing and hardly moving her waist
Now the long-expected glamour has started but
Whispers of looming appearance of maidens took me back to
The road to my In-law's Place

Protracted lines of beauteous Maidens appear in the sticks
Curiosity now heightened as I took a long gawk at them
My demons take hold, almost questioning my choice
Until I came to, realizing only one path, no options lead to
The road to my In-law's Place

Keg and cup-bearers step in to decant the palmwine
A voice never heard hitherto speaking
Father-In-law breaks his silence and
Hands over the wine-filled cup to his daughter
With perambulating cat-walk, she searches for me in
The crowded road to my In-law's Place

Men from both sides each pose in cognizant impersonation
To clutch the cup from her hand and supplant me
Imposters, friends or fiends, erstwhile or current admirers?
My mind battle for answers: will she choose another?
This traffic notwithstanding, she and I shall run one lane on
The road to my In-law's Place

Getting edgy, I rose to make myself taller than the rest
Still the overpass persists as she looks the other way
I glanced sideways for support from my kinsmen and friends
A premeditated involvement in their looks
The breed of friends I chose to tread
The road to my In-law's Place

Bowled over at what I feel and see now
Pretending to dislike what they love
Dissemblers and lovers in one at a go
This interminable peek-a-boo must stop now
If this journey must continue on
The road to my In-law's Place

My aunt tapped my shoulder from behind
Presentiment awakening her to my internal ordeal
Iwejuo Ndidi! That's what grandmother named you
With sobered and stoic indignation I realize
Auntie Patience is my only true guide on
The road to my In-law's Place.


Dinneya's poem © 2020