Question

Structure of the poem to be or not to be born by l.s.rokade

Answer 1

Mother, you used to tell me

when I was born

your labour was very long.

The reason for your long labour;

I, still in your womb, was wondering

Do I want to be born-

Do I want to be born at all

in this land?

Where all paths raced horizonwards

but to me barred

All of you lay, eyes fixed on the sky

then shut them, saying

calmly, yes,

the sky has a prop, a prop!

Your body covered

with generations of dire poverty

your head pillowed

on constant need

you slept at night

and in the day you writhed

with empty fists tied to your breast!

Here you are not supposed to say

that every human being comes

from the union of man and woman

Here, nobody dare

broaden the beaten track.

You ran round and round yourself

exclaiming YES, of course

the earth is round, is round.

Mother, this is your land

flowing with water

Rivers break their banks

Lakes brim over

And you, one of the human race

must shed blood

struggle and strike

for a palmful of water

I spit on this great civilization

Is this land yours, mother,

because you were born here?

Is it mine

because I was born to you?

Must I call this great land mine

love it

sing its glory?

Sorry, mother, truth be tell

I must confess I wondered

Should I be born

Should I be born into this land.