Category: Poetry Publisher: Graceland Book Publishers United Kingdom
ISBN-10: 095662104X
Type: Fiction
Pages: 150
Copyright: December 2010
ISBN-13: 9780956621047
Weep Not my Child,"The Heartcry Of a mother" by Chinyere Nwakanma
WEEP NOT MY CHILD
In this new book, Chinyere Nwakanma author of The Beautiful Garden Poems shifts her focus from issues around the world to women in Africa. Weep not my child is a collection of human stories told using poems written in very simple poetic language. The poems are written in simple funny lyrics and they are quite amusing. Some of the poems are song like with the poet touching some basic issues around the world. Societal issues in modern Africa still remain the same as it was in the pre colonial era. While displaying her sense of humour in the lyrics, the poet expressed sadness over these issues which need to be addressed in modern day Africa. The poet tells it all in poetic language of the different issues that show the treatment given to women even in modern day Africa. This she expressed in lyrics such as the dead man’s wife, hot birth, circumcision, apology, girl child labour, bride price, in-laws, the house helps all revealing the status of women even in modern day Africa. All poetry lovers will love this book and find the poems amusing and will laugh while reading the book.
Excerpt
THE DEAD MAN’S GRAVE
He rang at midnight
As if he was a knight
To demand for some money
Money money money
To cover the dead man’s grave
I couldn’t believe my ears
As I confirmed my fears
As he went on to make it clear
That we all must hear
Money money money
To cover the dead man’s grave
Money for some slabs
Money for some jabs
Money money money
To cover the dead man’s grave
No, I heard him mention
Not even with caution
As I sat on the cushion
Of rituals and ceremonies
Money money money
To cover the dead man’s grave
He spoke of some laces
Some goats and some vases
And even some exotic wines
Money money money
To cover the dead man’s grave
I was wearied and worried
And wondered why
I am being bothered
Just because of money
To cover a dead man’s grave
I checked the dates
I checked at the gates
Fifty years gone by
I wondered if he’s from the mars
For he wished to hire some cars
I thought he must be from the moon
Or even the Coocooland
Money money money
To cover the dead man’s grave
I waited for some years
And the dead man
Was never woken
With the tokens
I wondered why he made such fuss
Just for a dead man’s grave
The songs and art in this book are about our collective emergence after the pandemic and trauma of the last few years - comprised of 5 collections: World as Refuge, Where We Live, In Our Hands, Rhythms of Change and What We See & Sow.
