Day 2: A Poem about Motherhood

Kalilah Enriquez - My Mother's Heart

I often                                wonder
how  my  mother's        heart  manages  to
remain  so  full  when  she  seems to empty it
everyday  cooking  for    the  hungry  husband
counseling  the  misguided   son  babysitting
for the single-mother  daughter mothering
the  motherless  niece raising the  wide-
eyed questioning grand free of charge
free of charge free of charge free
of charge free of charge With
all the love she dishes out
daily, I wonder if she
ever has any left
to give her-
self

I've been a big fan of Kalilah Enriquez for years now.  And really, so have most people in Belize.  Her book 'Shades of Red' (In which you can find the above poem on page 12) is one of those books that never spend too much time on my bookshelves.  Hm.  Its a book I probably ought to write a review for.

As for this poem?  Well, look at it!  Not only is it fully expressive both in content and rhythm (Enriquez treats punctuation the way some chefs cook with dill: using only as much as is absolutely necessary.), but the reference to the old, familiar songs every Belizean's probably heard by now on Sunday afternoon radio makes this little poem a real gem.

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Kalilah Enríquez was born, raised and attended school in Belmopan, Belize. After graduating Belmopan Comprehensive High School she attended St. John's College Junior College in Belize City, then left on scholarship to Fordham University in New York, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications. Upon returning to Belize she joined KREM Radio as host of the Vibes and KREM's news editor in 2005. She has on occasion contributed to the Amandala. She now works in Jamaica for Hype TV as a presenter. In January 2010 she was the organizer of the “Help Haiti Benefit Concert and Telethon", the biggest show ever in Belize.