WATCHING THE NANNY

As I stood by the wallpapered wall

I watched her brush her silk hair

She was gentle

She was kind

She loosened every knot in the little girl’s dark curls

She sang her usual song

A song in a strange dialect

A song that lit the room

It made the little princess smile

I could feel the smile even though I couldn’t see her face

I wished I could touch her silk hair

Her silk mane that was just like mine

The hair that I trimmed a month ago

Just before I left her

The dark curls of my seed

I watch them from a distance

My immortal being felt sad

The pretty lady spoke kind words

Kind words that made my princess giggle

And then she lifted the mirror close to her spotless face

The sight of her well braided hair made her grin

And the long plaits she wiggled

The lady lifted her up in the air

A gesture she learned from me

And then she spun her around in her careful grip

My princess laughed

A laugh that made my heart cry

My lifeless being envied the lady who held my child

My princess wiggled her feet

The lady placed her on her well-made bed with fresh sheets

Everything in her room sparkled

The polished furniture glistened

Her Lego was well organized on the toy shelf

Barbie and Ken looked very happy on the book cabinet

I was pleased with what this sweet lady was doing for my princess

She was very kind to her

She was patient and loving

She never raised her voice at her

But correct her the same way I did

She learned well from me

Who knew a stranger could be kind to another

I was grateful to this lady who dwelled in my home

My spirit was now at peace

I could now complete my journey

I watched my daughter take a long deep breath

She was sleeping soundly

The lady dropped her favourite story book on the night table

Just few inches from where I stood

Unaware she was being watched

Ignorant of the presence of another being in the room

She turned on the bathroom light and turned off the bedroom light

Just like I used to

I hungered for those days of life as the lady closed the door behind her

I missed tucking in my little princess

It was time to leave

I could feel myself disappearing

I could feel the emptiness

I looked at my princess one last time

That was the sight I wanted to carry with me

My princess peacefully asleep in her soft bed

By Sylvia Chika

sylviachika@gmail.com

http://sylviachika.blogspot.com/

http://sylviachika.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sylviachikablog

Twitter:@sylviaoz


© SylviaChika 2013