#1: In My Mama's Kitchen
I remember being a girl
Standing by the door to
My mama’s kitchen
.
I remember being a girl
Sitting on my high chair
Being spoonfed my Cerelac
In my mama’s kitchen
.
I remember being a girl
Stealing meat from the soup
Boiling furiously on the gas stove
And watching my back
In my mama’s kitchen
.
I remember being a girl
Standing by the stove
Stirring the porridge
And adding the salt
Under the watchful gaze
In my mama’s kitchen
.
I remember being a girl
Confidently spicing the meat
Stealing a taste every few seconds
And when the festivities were over
It was just me
And the piles of dirty pots
In my mama’s kitchen .....
.
I remember growing up
But not quite all grown up
Doing all the cooking now
She had a doctorate
And other students to teach
She expected me
To be the boss
In my mama’s kitchen
.
I remember donning black
Welcoming all the guests
Serving beer through my tears
Wiping them before anyone saw
The food was in abundance
So were the sympathisers
And their gifts
All were meaningless
In my mother’s kitchen
.
