TALANA I

What is life?

The shameful secret came out today and

no one could stop the horror that was building up within mama.

She screamed so loud, even the birds of the air couldn’t comprehend.

She couldn’t look Talana in the eyes.

It felt like if she did,

she might just wrap her arms around her and squeeze her to death.

‘What have you done?’ She choked out.

‘How could you?!’

Mama didn’t understand that it was uncle Clement who’d done it and not Talana.

He’d admired the pretty budding flower for so long,

 he no longer had the patience to let it grow.

Rather, he plucked it and let it wither in his hands.

Oh, what to do with the growing life within the 13-year-old?

Uncle Clement could do no wrong in mamas’ eyes

So, our tearful confession fell on deaf ears.

‘This will be fixed. It must be fixed.’

In the end, Talana went to the village doctor the next day

And to the school for lost children the day after that.

Love is blind they say, but no one said that

 love can decide to see and become scorn filled while looking.