To the Anxious Mother by Valente Ngwenya Malangatana

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Into your arms I came

when you bore me, very anxious

you, who were so alarmed

at that monstrous moment

fearing that God might take me.

Everyone watched in silence

to see if the birth was going well

everyone washed their hands

to be able to receive the one who came from Heaven

and all the women were still and afraid.

But when I emerged

from the place where you sheltered me so long

at once I drew my first breath

at once you cried out with joy

the first kiss was my grandmother’s.

And she took me at once to the place

where they kept me, hidden away

everyone was forbidden to enter my room

because everyone smelt bad

and I all fresh, fresh

breathed gently, wrapped in my napkins.

But grandmother, who seemed like a madwoman,

always looking and looking again

because the flies came at me

and the mosquitoes harried me

God who also watched over me

was my old granny’s friend.