Wednesday 30 March 2011

Such A Good Husband


you saved my skin from the harsh sun
behind my extravagant purdah

you helped fight pimples on my skin
with the steam from the stove

you made my arms and calves muscular 
with the cleaning cooking scrubbing

you prevented my hair from greying
with the soot from the tiny kitchen

you maintained my hushed coy voice
with the coughs from burning the firewood

you surrounded my eyes with thick lotus petals
when i'd sew your buttons under the kerosene lamp

you let my baby fat be chubby and cute
with the marks from birthing five children

you let my feet remain curvaceous
from the long walks to fetch water

you let my toes blush pink and red
sore from the rust iron that would sneak in

you made me shudder, shiver, moan, cry
when you'd return drunk, with a thick vocabulary

you gave me round red chubby cheeks
with your palms slappity slap slap on my face

you are such a good husband