Ode to Nomalungelo and Child

 

 

            My hands,

Stubborn clumsy hands

That resemble - chickens feet,

Move tentatively, tenderly and

Closely down upon your womb,

            And I wait!

 

 

            The quick ripple on your tummy

Feels a little strange, makes awkward

Invocations I cannot understand,

And nervously, my smile tells of

Something that as a man,

I find difficult to grasp for

I cannot see his eyes,

I cannot hold within my arms

The babe that’s moving deep inside.

 

 

            Our baby’s growing fast,

You smile to comfort me,

And I let my hand relax placed

Gently on your belly,

And again,

            The butterfly flickers

A longing to sing the songs

Of freedom – to raise a  flag of life.

 

 

            My sense of touch

Beholds the baby that we’ve made,

I bend low, my breath -

Soft upon your skin and I sing

The song of Labi Siffre,

My son closer than nine months

            Away,

Just a fingertip away.

 

 

            And my love when all

Pretentions fade says the words

That make flurry all my tears,

And your tummy tastes of salt

As gentle on each phrase

I kiss our unborn child,

            And my words fall from

Lips like a seasoned prayer

And seeded,

            He’s there,

And here within the sparkle

In the meeting of our eyes,

And deep within our hearts,

A symphony of Siffre

Hails the love we share.

 

 

 

 

The higher you build your barriers

The taller I become

The farther you take my rights away

The faster I will run

You can deny me

You can decide to turn your face away

No matter, cos there’s……….

 

Something inside so strong

I know that I can make it

Though you’re doing me wrong, so wrong

You thought that my pride was gone

Oh no, something inside so strong

Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

 

The more you refuse to hear my voice

The louder I will sing

You hide behind walls of Jericho

Your lies will come tumbling

Deny my place in time

You squander wealth that’s mine

My light will shine so brightly

It will blind you

Cos there’s…………

 

Something inside so strong

I know that I can make it

Though you’re doing me wrong , so wrong

You thought that my pride was gone

Oh no, something inside so strong

Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

 

Brothers and sisters

When they insist we’re just not good enough

When we know better

Just look em in the eyes and say

I’m goona do it anyway

I’m goona do it anyway

I’m goona do it anyway

I’m goona do it anyway

 

Because there’s something inside so strong

And I know that I can make it

Though you’re doing me wrong so wrong

You thought that my pride was gone

Oh no, something inside so strong

Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong.

 

 

Words and music in bold care of Labi Siffre

 

 

Michael J Waite 12^thJanuary 2010.