Iya mi

She is an ordinary extraordinary woman

With no bone of jealousy in her

A symptom of the common woman

Always full of appreciation

For life’s gifts

No matter how minimal

She seeks no one’s acceptance

Never the centre of controversy

Her instinct is to love and nurture

Even those undeserving

She wears a label

That of a conqueror

Standing atop the pillars she built

Stone by stone with tenacity and courage

She stands tall

A sweet mix of intelligence and humour

I met this woman on the day of my birth

Her impact on me has been massive

To this day, I can’t believe my luck

That I call her “mother”

 

Iya mi – My mother (Yoruba language)

Image credit: John Hain

• Growth
• Motherhood
• Poetry