A narrative explanation and interpretation of a poem written out of true life event.
A day it was
bangs and banters hit the street
Reaching home yesterday after the long day work, I met my Mom on the couch with sad expression on her face, I couldn't not help but ask for the reason behind those grumpy face of hers but she insisted on being quiet. that moment I realised it must have been something sad and painful she is not willing to talk about, I sat down with her to make her feel more comfortable. maybe she might let me know of what was on her mind because I was really worried, it is unlike her to be quiet
Looking at my worried face, she must have noticed that I was becoming terrified of the expression on her face, to lessen my worries she decided to speak
According to my mom, A friend of hers just died, though they didn't know each other from childhood, she can't be considered a childhood friend but they have known each other for long. she is one of her favourite customers, she has a nasty desire for good hairstyles whenever she comes by to make her hair, she is a landlord in my street. I have known her for years she is a typical Yoruba woman with a beautiful smile, I was always highly intrigued by her capabilities as a woman and her enthusiasm towards hardwork
According to her, she was ill for awhile and was being treated at a private hospital, where she eventually died of the sickness.
early this morning before the sun rise, we heard loud noises from different corners of our neighbourhood, I rushed out to see what was going on, she has been brought back to the neighbourhood to be buried in front of her house, just like every other typical Yoruba burial. Despite building a house that is as huge as a mansion out of her sweat, working day and night till she eventually falls sick, six feet was all they dug and threw her in like a pack of dirt. what a life filled with vanity, I murmured gently
Chanting of market women
echoes like sea waves
death hits once again
A soul was laid to rest
She was a highly respected business woman among the market women, she organised a lot money contribution also known as Ajo in Yoruba, this helped a lot of market woman to have access to some funds that assisted them in their business. being a very beneficial person to the market women, her passing must have been a great loss, they cried out so loud, the whole neighbourhood was filled with sounds of their sorrowful cry.
It was just a month ago, a man died in the neighbourhood just few blocks away from her house, the neighbourhood was still healing before this unfortunate event happen again. I wonder if death has no sympathy towards the living
She was a great woman, "they say"
whispering to each others ears
like it matters to the dead
that has been laid down to rot
Like fermented mushrooms
A lot rumours was said about her when she was a alive because a lot of hypocrites despise her success, she was once married but now a single mother who left her husband because of mistreatment. she make it her responsibility to Carter for her children, though the husband also takes care of the children but she decide to play her part also. from my knowledge of her, she was highly intelligent business minded woman, as a result of this during her stay with her husband she already bought 2 plots of land in my neighbourhood.
In the process of the disagreement with her husband, she quickly finished up the house so she could move in, it is a kind strange thing in my neighbourhood to see a woman of that age building such a majestic apartment, they could not bare the sight of her success, so they started all sort of things about her, such as "She was an adulterous woman, who is having an affair with wealthy men and high rank politicians, that is why she was able to afford to build such a house. they added, that must have been the reason why she was kicked out by her husband" but none of this was true
This bottomless rumours spread like wild fire, until it reached her ears but she pays no attention to it and focused on her life like she has been doing, the gossipers must have felt really disgusted and upset by her, not paying attention to their gossips, they put more hardwork into their wicked schemes but it yield no result because she kept minding her own business, what a mature minded woman.
Now that she is dead, words they could have said to her when she was alive instead of spreading groundless rumours about her and making her feel miserable, now they come around saying those words, when she is unable to hear their words. humans can be mean, I whispered to myself.
they gather around in twos and threes
strange faces with long expression
on their faces like a mask
in circle like termites
to their respect to the dead
Humans can be pathetic, showing up there in the gatherings amidst them are those who smeared dirt all over her name and reputation, I'm sure they are pretending to be sad, wearing an expression like a mask to cover their smiles and happiness of their victory, showing up in multitude pretending to offer respect to the dead.
A loud cry
Arouse from the crowd
a young lady in a black gown
she must be a relative, "I murmured"
As we gathered feeling sad and depressed, suddenly we heard a loud cry, from the crowd. I felt so terrified, What could have happened again? by the looks of it, from her resemblance to the dead woman, she looks like her daughter, I have never met any of them before they barely come around, as a result of their fathers' intention to keep them away from their mother
She screams of the goodbyes, she couldn't say
of her absence, she now missed dearly
of kind gestures, she could have shared
All in the past now
the dead has no memory of the present.
There was a lot sorrow and desperation in are voice, she trembles and cry, expressing her grief in the only way she can, by lamenting and regretting the lost moment with her mother, missing lost times they could have spent together, I guess she must have felt like she had more time to make up with her mother but death is not so considerate, to let the dead have some moment with their loved ones, to express their goodbyes before embarking on a journey of no return
LESSONS
1) Acquisition of property might seem important at the moment but health is wealth because when everything dawns on you, all that is left is a little hole dug to be buried, with no one taking considerations of the house built and how furnished it is, the whole property will be named after another person, while the corpse of the owner rots in a hole. "As a human, always make sure you make some quality time for yourself to relax and rest because the whole house and property you so much desire will still be around after you are gone"
2) In life no matter how little it is, always endeavour to make a positive impact on another persons' life, that is all that will matter because good deeds pleases the ears
3) Time waits for no man, no one can predict the time and hour when unfortunate incident will come knocking, never allow present situation and grudges let the time you could have spent with a loved one slip away, time is precious, say it to them "tell them how much you loved them" when you still can because you might not have another chance to do so
inspired by a true life event, interested in the poem kindly click on the link, an entry for the weekly featured content in hive learners community.
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