At Grandmum's

At Grandmum’s

The clock clicked
Steadily
Time passed.
Would I catch the bus?

‘God know Dear boy
You’ll get it’
But the meal
Wasn’t ready still.

Anger, rage, urgency
Filled my chest
‘These old people
Don’t know time’,
Thought I,
But I couldn’t defy
Her.

I heard the crack
Of the splintering wood
And out went I
Breaking the plank
With the senile hands
Slowly surely
Was Grandmum.

Tears filled my eyes
Of patience for
Foolish artificiality,
For defying this
Great love.

Okumba Miruka