Missing my African Mother tongue
Inspired by a story written by Ofentse Tladi
I passed by my distant African family today
while walking on the streets of New York City
They spoke in a language which I could not comprehend
my heart broke a tiny bit, you see......
I felt such a sense of intense loss
as their voices echoed the words that I should understand
but did not
Everything echoed in the blended familiar
in words of my long forgotten Mother language
I found myself travelling back to a time
to moments when I laughed and spoke my Mother tongue
When I knew of what my family spoke so fervently
as they passed by me, unaware of my existence
On New York's busy city streets
Those echoes throbbed in waves of deepened heartaches
reminding me of missed freedom of roaming the open spaces
Of Africa, my ancestral home
where my spirit walked barefoot upon the land
Before I became the descendant of the English version of myself
and lost a very precious part of my long forgotten past
Is there time, I now wonder
to learn the words of my African homeland
To feel the heart of the words of which my family speaks
when we once again pass each other on the foreign streets
And say hello in Afrikaan, Swahili, Bantu or Zulu
and so smile in the familiarity of knowing each other
To no longer be strangers in a land far away from home
in Africa, our homeland
Far away, but not forgotten!
Read her words, and hear her voice!
About the Creator
Novel Allen
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. (Maya Angelou). Genuine accomplishment is not about financial gain, but about dedicating oneself to activities that bring joy and fulfillment.
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Comments (10)
Beautiful ❤️
Oh no, I'm so sorry that you have forgotten your mother tongue 🥺 I didn't know that was possible. I can sense your emotions through your words. Sending you lots of love and hugs! ❤️
Language is not just communicating, but an entire world and culture and habits and ways of expressing oneself that come from very far away. Languages should never be lost or forgotten, African languages are many, but I believe you can start with one and study and learn and maybe someday teach to others. ❤ The story written by Ofentse is great, thanks for sharing it.
The pacing of this is brilliant and the content quietly poignant. A wonderful little piece Novel!! ☺️👏☀️
To feel the heart of the words of which my family speaks-❤️💯📝🥰
There is always time, my friend, until there is not. And there's no time like the present to begin.
This expresses the feelings of loss and longing so well, Novel. I really liked how you wrote this poem sharing and expanding on the feelings that Ofentse Tladi expressed in her story as well. I hope that you do have time to learn the words ❤️
Bravo! That felt good... Heritage is important. I remember when our neighbors used to babysit us, they would teach us African songs and melodies. Till this day, some 40 years later, I still remember one of the songs. Thank you so much for sparking that memory! Excellent poem!
There is still time I guess so ! You will learn, another touching beautiful poem ! but if You later will start to write in it We will need to learn it too or just translate it it will be beautiful for sure !
💙 I am convinced You can do anything, learn anything! Thank You for this ... and adding to my misty eyes full of gratitude from many of today's heartfelt comments. 💙😌💙