Mamam,
NNE BEATY
NWUNYE MUONEKE
NOBLE LADY
NNEOKWUKWE
CHINAKWEAKU
EZIADA NWABUEZE OFOMA
NNUKWU ADAUDO
OCHIEDIKE NNEM
NWANYITEGHETE
MY ROCK OF A WOMAN! Where do I want to start?
Is it my first TEACHER that taught me my ABCs and one, two, three?
Is it my first PEDIATRICIAN that gave me Mist Alba or Castor oil every other Saturday and Sunday medicine (Daraprin) religiously after Mass?
Is it the green-thumbed GARDENER that taught me how to plant all kinds of seeds and how far apart?
Is it my first HOME ECONOMICS TEACHER from whom I learned to cook everything and sew complete outfits by age 8?
Is it my teacher in etiquette and how to be a desirable lady, wife and mother?
I proudly call myself a farmer’s daughter because you totally immersed me into farm life, even before I turned 8 years. Remember how you would wake me up, and take me with you to our farm before Cooperative? How I would cry all the way to school being up to one hour late? You told me I would thank you some day for that. Mama, I say thank you again for all that rigorous training.
Mama I remember how many times I saw you hiding in your room with a rosary in your hands, crying. Yes, your mates had a zillion boys. Finally, God answered and gave you 3 boys. Your three boys turned out to 30, always doing things for you. Your 6 girls – useless nwa nwayi – we turned out to be the desirables, the cornerstones. Thank God, faithful God.
Mama, you lived long to continue your good work, your covenant with the Almighty God. Yes, sleep on and take your rest because you did more than your fair share for humanity. Just like your husband, you left this earth much better than you found it. Everyone that met you, those that did not meet you, all bear witness for you, that you:
Educated, trained, those who needed education
Fed the hungry and less privileged
Housed and paid rents for people
Clothed a lot, the most important reason for your shop
Built up self-esteem in young and old
Found and created jobs for the jobless
Mama, your legacy lives on. Your grandkids are holding and keeping on that legacy as you quietly as you executed it.
Sleep on, Nne Onyeoma
Sleep on, Nne Beaty
Sleep on, Nne Rose
Rest on, Mama Sister
Rest on, Nne Theo
Rest in peace, Mama Nwuto
Good night, Mummy Njohnny
Good night, Mama Ejima
Good night, Mummy Ntonto Uju
Rest on Ezinwanyi, the great Muoneke matriarch.