|
IFEGI-OKU (WEEK 38) - "The Errant Mid-Wife" Part 1 of 3 |
WEEK 38: THE ERRANT MID-WIFE, Part 1 of 3
Her hands and feet are bound against flight
Mouth also gagged to keep from calling out
The Mid-Wife lies in Obi's large barn
And is kept company by his tubers of yams
She's lain on her side twelve hours straight
In all that time, she's no water or food
But her thoughts entirely go to her fate
More so, to the actions of her field mates
She has been expected long before now
Where the trees meet the water – at the downs
Breaking her thoughts, Obi storms in
Sunlight and fresh air into the space flood
Obi walks over, lifts her to his face
She is not shy, she meets his gaze squarely
"I am the sire of the boy you'd murder!"
He knocks out the cloth stuffing her mouth
The Errant Mid-Wife stares in awe
Marvels to see anger so open
She attempts, "Your word is incorrect.
Murder was not tempted, it was mishap.
"I've been a mid-wife the whole of my life.
Never at my job have I dropped a child!"
Truth be some of what she says, although
The mid-wife part she came up with
The dropped man-child was true mishap
Disappointment to see the babe was male
"I spent yesterday searching out your past."
Obi is so angry, his breath parts her hair
"No village in these parts, claims you as its own.
If you love life dearly, you'll say here and now,
Which of my lesser wives put you up to dread?!
From whence did you come, speak up, you beast!"
This manner of man she's never known
Nor does she know of lesser wives
"A wife is never less, she is the greatest!"
Obi shuts her up by dragging her outside
Stumbling and falling, she ushers to the yard
Filled once more with his family and friends
The Lesser Wives there in the center kneeling
Circled by their girls unabashedly weeping
(to be continued) |
|
