-women- Poem by Blessing Chukwudi

WOMEN

In my country the word 'women'
is more than a noun
To say it's a woman talk is to label it as tantrums
Words befitting to arouse your humor
And make you shake your head
Like you do at a child's innocent
show of foolishness

In my country, the word 'women' is more than a noun
It's an exclamation; some sort of gate for a narrow escape when the argument heat up and the tables are turning in her Favour
It works all the time…it's a backgate
Always free…unguarded; ever open

It's a balm for your bruised ego
Works more than your usual, since it straightway soothes you with no stinging effect
More than an exclamation, it's a category
For a conversation that must never make it to the tables

It's women talk after all
The type you ignore to calm the rage building up inside you, threatening to erupt
The type befitting for kitchen; fit for the children's ear

In my country the word 'women' is more than a noun
It's an excuse for ignoble deeds
Shares same bedroom with this statement:
Foolishness lies in the heart of a child
So often the rod is used to drive it far

In my country the word 'women' is more than a noun
You are not expected to 'follow woman talk'
For then, you will be asked in a voice dripping with amused surprise and plea
'You dey follow woman talk? '

In my country, the word 'women' is more than a noun
But in fairness I must tell you that it's not always so; not everywhere
It's different in the bedroom; it's different when she's needed to quench the fire threatening to explode inside you
It's sometimes different when she's the gateway through which you graced the earth.