Linda Gabriel

When he moved in
I had never expected him to stay
I believed he had read the desperation painted in my eyes
That erupted like volcanoes from deep within me
He felt the need to, maybe just a little adventure
Yet some of his close friends assured me that he would stay
This season felt different to them
He would linger on like sweet scent of burning essence
They told me of his previous attempts of freeing himself from being mama’s
boy
But this time proved unique


The idea of him staying was dew which disappears without a trace
My people behaved funny
He never got around understanding them
Patience was far from his doors
In the mornings in his tranquil moments of deep thoughts and silence
My people annoyed him by their laughter, praises and chants

In those instances when he would have loved to be left alone
My people’s toddlers bustled and bundled themselves, clinging on him
In their ragged, filthy, scruffy clothes
With mucus running down their nose into their mouths

My people were not learned like him
Neither did they read huge books
They were simple, he was complicated
They had no worries, he had projects and deadlines
They chewed their pride, his ego could not be joked with
They were older, he was young
They were not civilised and were far from being sophisticated

One morning having had enough
I still in my sleep
He packed everything of his
Asked me if I wanted to keep some things
He handed me all the bills he had settled whilst i was away
He explained changes I had to deal with immediately


I asked him why run away
My people were liars; they had insulted him and called him names
I gave him a lecture, which I regret because he wasn’t my student
I took side and stood for my people, who are commoners
My grandmother who raised me was a commoner so i have got little understanding
of my people
He wasn’t a bad young man, not at all
He said it wasn’t because of me but of my people
So he moved out
And we didn’t kiss goodbye