On Mothers' Day

Locked up

in solitary confinement

where I regard your beautiful visage

through foggy but indelible imageries -

can’t bend the bars!

can’t break the law, not again!

on Mothers’ Day.

Locked up

in gory battles

with fellow political punters

on which pundit to bet my electoral dollar on

have lost the locus -

can’t focus!

on Mother’s Day.

Locked up

in hectic engagements

at the factory -

can’t straighten up!

can’t sleep a wink!

on Mothers’ Day.

Locked up

in street fights and clubs, gallivanting -

can’t think!

can’t blink!

on Mothers’ Day.

Locked up

in matrimonial feuds –

while you till the fields

can’t inhale! can’t exhale!

can’t bat an eyelid!

on Mothers’ Day.

Locked up

in perennial, financial woes -

can’t buy a monthly roof!

can’t buy a daily morsel!

on Mothers’ Day.

Locked up

in academic pages

hairs hackling at the thought of the (dead) philosophers’ laws –

can’t deliver meaning

can’t give a clue

on Mothers’ Day.

Locked up

in mental debacles

inside my head

whether to remit to you my warm regards

or not?

this Mother’s Day.

Can I defy the odds…

Happy mother’s day still, dear mom

my love for you is all bottled-up,

simmering to the cork, like a hot furnace

but I have it under close guard…

wish I could ferry it to you in person this winter

on this Big Day, on Mothers’ Day…

© Conarth Macheka – 11 May 2013