My Choice – Cate Nyabuti
Mother, father, and the man I should marry
Like old friends sit by the fire
Taking in the warmth; sipping on their cups
Exchanging pearls of wisdom
They nod in mutual understanding
Bound by their pact, they periodically laugh
I’m seated at the corner; busy
Pretending not to listen.
I dare not interrupt the custodians of my future
Mother looks at me; assuringly smiles
They want the best for me, and my future
My daughter is Eve; you have to be the Adam
Father tells my future husband.
And my future husband has to be many things;
We must share ancestors, for a pure bloodline
A decent upbringing, for a cultured bloodline
Belief in God; for a pious bloodline
An agreeable conduct, for our reputation
Must not interrupt my schooling;
Our bloodline must remain learned
And has to match or exceed my intellect;
Our bloodline must be affluent.
Now satisfied with their choice of this acceptable man
The council turns to me with their verdict;
I must meet this now non-existent man
I must choose him; they’ll take no less;
Perhaps more
Their choice is my choice; our choice-
The best choice.
This man I have to find
A man who is all these men
Am I the woman he wants to marry?
Hm, women actually do consider if another man can be more than their actual suitor! Interesting.
Very interesting. I like the evocative theme that touches on the sociocultural influences of African societies. When the will of choice is compromised by parents, the very moral fabric of virtues in societies is on a path of decay.