In our patriarchal and pseudo-conservative societies, single mothers are often victims of moral judgments and societal pressures. We all must learn to respect the choice of the other and not seek to impose our lifestyle choice and doctrines on another, for only then can we truly be free!
This delightful poem is for all single mums out there! Happy Mothers’ Day!
I am a Single Mother
I am a single mother
Proud like the other
I was a young mummy
Now wise and yummy
Yes I have a son
As bright as the sun
You say he needs a daddy
For him to be dandy
But I need no ring
To make me sing
I am a single mother
Sleek as the otter
I need no rows
To take the vows
I work and toil
But I don’t spoil
I spare the rod
But he is not rot
Sometimes I smack
Never leave a mark
I am a single mother
That is not a murder
So stop the blunders
Enough of your slanders
You need a man
Like your Nan
You will soon sag
Funny how they nag
I really don’t know for what
Certainly not for my want!
I am a single mother
I am proud to utter
He has a father
Who is just farther
You should know
It takes Two
Not just a procreator
To be his creator
A baby a community can scold
It takes love a human to mould
I am a single mother
Stop your muttering
There is no bastard
Don’t be so dastardly
He is not a furnace
For your social menace
He is not a barnacle
But a special miracle
Landing on your moon
To make you swoon
I am a single mummy
Both sexy and yummy
I can date, I will get a sitter
Don’t be late, I need no cheater
Just be ready
To go steady
No drinking late
That leaves you stale
Three is a number
That leaves me sober
I am a single mother
That can go yonder
I am proud to mutter
That I am no nutter
My son praises I sing
For he is a gift I bring
I need no wedding ring
Not even a big bling
Get out of your cove
For it is time to love
BY ©YEMISI ILESANMI
Thanks for that, Yemi. Happy Mother’s Day!
You are welcome,Ulysses and same to you! 🙂
Happy (belated) Mother’s Day! I’m not a mom myself, but I do of course have a mom. I like how you express both an individual and a maternal identity with this poem.
Some poetry reads smoothly in my head as prose, but sounds cumbersome if performed; and some poetry just doesn’t work until I imagine a voice giving it character and nuance. Having re-read your others and now this one, I definitely find your style to fit the second category for me, to the point that I can “hear” you performing them. Do you think about how you would/will read the words out loud as you write? There’s a very strong sense of personality to them. Thank you for sharing.
VeganAtheistWeirdo
Thanks! Yes, I understand how my poems could appeal more when brought to life by a person who gets into the role and embrace the personality. Once I post some of my other poems, you will find out my poems are mostly about issues like feminism, sexism, culture, stereotypes and equality rights, and they tend to take on a personality of a strong person trying to break the chains of oppression. Many single mums fell in love with this poem when i first published it on my Facebook page. They identify with it and could see themselves in the character.
I think if I am to read the words out and perform my poems, I will get seriously engrossed in the role, especially since I identify with the subject matter addressed in most of my poems.
You ‘smack’ your kids?
I would personally interpret that bit of the poem to be clear… “I spare the rod”… Not ambiguous? Smack, but leave no mark. Could that possibly refer to being strict but without resort to physical punishment!
Yemmy, sorry about the level of literary criticism here, I think FTBs is letting you down in that regard if it requires me to point out such an obvious interpretation!
oolon -- In all honesty, I just assume they make these silly comments just to be vile because i can’t imagine they’d truly be this stupid. But if they are truly this uninformed , they’d do well to leave their mouth in park if their brain is not in gear.
Riiiiiight. Ok, if you say so.
Could that possibly refer to being strict but without resort to physical punishment!
It could. On the other hand, it could refer to striking that is far less severe than the ‘rod’, but still falls under the definition of physical contact. That is kind of closer to the meaning implied by the word ‘smack’. Adding the part about not leaving a mark actually sounds a little bit creepy. Sort of reminds me of this kind of thing: I would steer away from this imagery as much as possible.
Yemmy, they are, unintentionally, their own worst critics…
Not gud for the youth