The Price of Duty

III.Hearts torn apart

The sun high above the clouds

Drum beats signalling celebration

Nsibi in her room crying outloud

As the whole village gathers full of elation

From children to parents

All dancing full of joy 

Celebrating the Marriage of Osunya to Nkwen.

Why me? What did I do to not deserve happiness?

What got me into this mess?

I'll live forever in distress,

But as a man I cannot go back on my promise to the clan,

I said I'll marry this girl,

And this marriage shall go as plan -Osunya in his head

My son why are you so deep in thought?

You should be excited like the rest, hear them singing you songs,

This is unlike you My son, 

You should tell me what's wrong,

I brought you into this world,

I don't like seeing you this way,

Especially on this glorious occasion,

That is your wedding day.

Mother! What are you doing here?

This is against our traditions,

Your presence in this room is surely a taboo,

You might anger the Gods 

and the Ancestors too. 

Traditions, Traditions,

Most of them have no purpose,

I'm tired of them,

I’m sure you feel the same?

All they do is make us misarable,

I curse the day they came.

Oh! Mother it's like you're in my soul;

As you know exactly what I feel,

All for the sake of duty,

My nightmares have turned real,

These traditions are making me let go

Of my one true love,

And the pain is beyond that of a blow from a bow.

My son as your mother I know a lot about you,

I too know first-hand

The hurt that you're going through;

A long time ago your years,

I was married off

Not to the one I loved,

But to another in tears.

Mother what should I do?

What decision should I make?

I truly love Nsibi,

What road should I take?

My son you have a duty to your clansmen,

However painful this is,

You must marry Nkwen,

In a few years you'll learn to love her,

As I did, with your father.