BORN (AGAIN)

Of women I’m born again Can you hear their ululating Announcing my arrival Fragrant smells of impepho I’m welcomed to the world of sisterhood My birthing cloth, a quilt, a pink quilt Made of strong fragility, courage, love, integrity, laughter It is a soft landing In tears that I’m bathed The salty water becomes my armour I’m pampered and spoiled For I’m a child of the sisterhood Guided by the teachings of Mangwane yo tshwarang thipa ka bo haleng* I’m taught to name my fear They let me fall, get up and try again Fiercely protected and gently rocked Lulled by Namutebi’s* melodies I emerge from my cocoon, of fear and pain Courageously my wings flutter Omama* ,the wind beneath Gently I take to flight and soon will be soaring above all injustices I learn that it’s okay to cry, to wear pink, to be proud My midwives…poignant poets, heavenly healers, courageous comrades the carriers of the future, those who love freely, those with gentle strength My beautiful midwives ; crying, singing, praising, praying I feel welcome in the house of mothers Those on whose backs , the nation is built Imbokodo ,the rock I have come a long way Feeling the fear and doing it anyway I have come home And it’s good to be back 27/11/2004 ************************ Mangwane yo tshwarang thipa ka bo haleng- She who holds the knife at its sharpest Namutebi – A friend's clan name