Mother, O Mother

Mother, O Mother

Where is the nurture of the lioness?

The protection like the mother bear?

Where is the light in the darkness?

The shade of the ancient tree?

 

Mother, O Mother

I am haunted by their eyes

His eyes: as the fire engulfed my head

Her eyes: 'We’ll call you'

His eyes: as I stared down the barrel

Once. Twice. Thrice. Four

 

Mother, O Mother

The repressed self-hate as he

Pressed against me, 

My hair in his balled fist

My blood upon his member

Once. Twice. Thrice. A dozen times

 

The splashes of fire in the darkness of a club

The hate spewed from the mouths of ignorance

The sign of the cross as she crosses your path

The denial of access to safe bath and rest

 

Mother, O Mother

Where are the equal eyes?

The embrace of fellow humans?

Where is the equality?

The value of fellow life?

 

Where is the erasure

Of the eyes of hate

The memories emblazoned

The fuel of ignorance?

Mother, O Mother Earth

Help me, Help us

My imploration of love