i am a man because my mother says so! by Ojijo Ogillo

(extracted from Fireplace Stories: Ojijo's Performance Poems. Poem .2012. ISBN.978-9966-123-17-6)

 

 

do not look at me,

do not analyse me,
do not measure me,
do not compare me,
as if i am not a man,
because i am a man,

 

i am not a man because i show you respect,

talking to you while standing up,
shaking your hand with my two hands,
saying ‘yes please’ and ‘yes thank you’
i am a man because my mother says so!

 

i am not a man because i have two cars,
two homes,
two wives,
and two children,
I am a man because i take care of my mother,

 

i am not a man because i am mature,
adult,
experienced,
and old,
i am a man because my mother say so,

 

do not measure my manhood with stripes and stars,
do not measure my manhood with drivers and secretaries,
do not emasure my manhood with guards and guns,
do not measure my manhood with degrees and doctorates,
i am a man because i protect my mother

 

i am not a man because you bow and kneel for me,

i am not a man because you salute and parade for me,
i am not a man because you clap and applaud me,
i am a man because my mother say so,

 

i am a man whether you like me, or spite me,
i am a man whether you hate me, or love me,
i am a man whether you curse me or bless me,
i am a man whether you hire me, or fire me,
i am a man whether you marry me, or reject me,
i am a man because my mother say so!

 

i am a man because of my mother,
i am a man for my mother,
i am a man in my mothers eyes,
i am a man because my mother says so.

 (Ojijo is a lawyer, author, poet, pianist, luo culture expert, business systems consultant, career mentor, public speaker and coach:+256776100059: ojijo@allpublicspakers.com)