I am six years old
Waiting for my mother to kiss, to hug and behold
I am a young promising girl among those in this village
Waiting for my mother to acknowledge me in her image
I am talented in my ways even the head master knows me by name
I am in the middle of a high school play applaud ably convincing in my game
Waiting for my mother’s presence in the audience, slowly I begin to feel pain
Quietly as I go through life I sing…
One special day I will find my way between the womb and the world
A place filled with angels to bathe me, raise me, save me, embrace me
If not… this is why I’ll keep going home… in search of,
A place filled with warm hands to bathe me, raise me, save me, embrace me
One special day I will find my way between the womb and the world
I am standing among friends with proud fathers while hoping for my own
Waiting for my mother to grant me the wish to pick up the phone, as I’m not fully grown
I am going through my first heart ache with a boy who taught me a ruthless thing about love
And still waiting for my mother to bring to my understanding the experience above
I am graduating into the adult world of accumulating wealth and signing cheques
While waiting for my mother to remind me who gave birth to me, before I buy my first shoes & handbags
Quietly as I go through life I sing…
One special day I will find my way between the womb and the world
A place filled with angels to bathe me, raise me, save me, embrace me
If not… this is why I’ll keep going home… in search of,
A place filled with warm hands to bathe me, raise me, save me, embrace me
One special day I will find my way between the womb and the world
I am naked with evidence of disciplinary beatings from a parent who was absent during my conception
Obediently, I keep waiting for my mother to become my hero and put an end to this scar collection
I am waking up in a strange home filled with cold affection
Waiting for my mother to call and promise me a sunny tomorrow filled with loving attention
I am trapped in a love triangle gone wrong with a man threatening to end my life
Waiting for my mother’s intuition to sense her only daughter is about to shake hands with death
Quietly as I go through life I sing…
One special day I will find my way between the womb and the world
A place filled with angels to bathe me, raise me, save me, embrace me
If not… this is why I’ll keep going home… in search of,
A place filled with warm hands to bathe me, raise me, save me, embrace me
One special day I will find my way between the womb and the world
I am twenty something years old with a child of my own
Wounded by the years while I wait
Wounded by the loss of a sibling and a daughter
Wounded by witnessing my mother’s loss of a son and a grand-daughter
Suddenly an angel appears to bathe me, raise me, save me, embrace me
With wings so familiar, I realize it is my mother.
With hands so familiar, I realize it is my mother.
– Penelope Mohoto-Sebilwane –