Where were you when I first cried?

The cry heralding my coming on earth,

My mum writhing in labor pain,

In your strong arms I longed for embrace.

I grew up not knowing you,

Mum was the dad I ever knew,

She bathed and clothed me,

Cleaned and nourished me.

When in school I was bullied,

The jeers from peers too much to bear,

I longed to hear you reassure me,

How you would make me feel like a man.

I asked mummy your whereabouts,

Her eyes with tears she couldn’t answer,

Too much to bear the pain of neglect,

And not because you were far away.

For me to see you I needed a meeting,

Your to do list was minus me,

At home you were so far a distant,

I tried to reach you but always ‘mteja’.

I graduated with honors degree,

Now I am settled in my career,

I found a bride and now am married,

To make a family and happy home.

Soon you’ll be seeing your grandson,

Fatherhood beckons to me in a moment,

I want my son to have the best dad,

So help me help him achieve that.