Serving – a Pantoum

8

August 6, 2017 by petrujviljoen

Serving the shoppers, subservient to the boss

her God passed judgement , her husband is her master,

her head bowed in shame, her sin she’s a woman

she worked the whole week, standing on her feet

 

Her God passed judgment, her husband is her master

at his desk the whole day now he sinks into the armchair

she stands at the stove now at least in her slippers

her head bent in service her bane she’s a woman

 

At his desk the whole day now he sinks into the armchair

children clamouring, father may I! Go ask your mother!

she stands at the stove at least now in her slippers

Mother! Mother! We’re hungry! Mother what’s for dinner! Mother!

 

Children clamouring, father may I? His retort, go ask your mother!

her shoulders sag her feet are burning a new line on her face is forming

mother mother we’re hungry mother what’s for dinner? Mother!

she’s so tired she’s nearly crying. Yelling at the children, Go and play!

 

Her shoulders sag, her feet are burning, there’s a new line on her face

serving first the coffee to her husband, sitting, busy, reading his paper

she’s so tired she’s nearly crying. Yelling at the children. Go and play!

he looks at her sternly, shakes his head then his paper, sinks a bit deeper.

 

Serving first the coffee to husband sitting, busy, reading the news in the paper

husband, the drain, husband the garbage, husband the garden, husband the children

he looks at her sternly, shakes his head then the paper, sinks a bit deeper

she turns away, back to the kitchen, clangs the pots and the lids, starts screaming

 

Husband, the drain! Husband, the garbage! Husband, the children! Helpmate!

her God had judged her, her husband is her master, she knows no other

in the kitchen she starts screaming – then turns away.

dealing with the drain, she turns away.

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