She idles not a day at home
She keeps to her every plan,
Breeding her affection in the rich loam
Have you seen the bush woman?
You’d not think this derogatory
There are always yams in her barn
With warmth, her manners are satisfactory
She sings when she paddles
She sings when she weeds
She knows she shares in the saddles
While the way her husband leads
She lights the fireplace in the morning
She lets us out in the cold
On her lips we read the meaning
And we know no hunger till we’re old
She mumbles to the plants when lonely
About those of us in faraway lands
In her eyes the crops are so comely
And she can’t help feeling with her hands
Have you ever seen a bush woman?
She mustn’t eat before her outing
If there be something left in the pan
It’s for the little one who is already shouting
Have you really known a bush woman?
Atimes, she sits on a mound and sheds tears
Of joys that she’ll never know, nor ever can,
And how she is haunted by some fears!
Her songs are full of meanings
They can even make you cry
And when she feels like leaning
Our father doesn’t ask her why.
Written by: Torty Abasi Tortivie
Edited by: Kukogho Iruesiri Samson
