The Root Cause



Sometimes, better to dig it up
Right from the root
and expose it to daylight
cos' it's not good
for a man to sleep all day
and not wake up to his responsibilities

It's not normal
If he pushes his wife out to the street
to hustle
And to fend for the family
my son
something has gone terribly wrong

The head has been cut-off
the crown of honour removed
you can no longer tame your own wife
when she goes ire
shouting on top of the roof

I feed you, cloth you,
go out all day to work
and you lay back at home
can't even pick up a stick of broom
can't sweep the house
you didn't clean the toilet
you didn't wash the dishes
you are good for nothing

My son
which ear can hear these things and not tingle
which stomach can take it and not have diarrhea

For nothing kills a man so quickly
than a wife's abuse
it's more poisonous than a viper's sting
it's like a dagger stabbed deep into his heart
when a wife crosses her legs very tight
and refuse to open for her own husband
it's not normal,  It's not right

My son
something has gone terribly wrong
she has found another man
she has found a love nest
A home away from home

She returns late, goes to night vigil
and before your very eyes
your wife flirt around
selling her own body
and buying pity with her tongues
my husband is dead
he is no longer a man
 he's now a ghost of himself

My son
which brain can ponder on these things and not have migraine
which eyes can see such abomination
and not weep blood

When a man is weak and listless
when his energy fails him
when he withdraws from the fight for life
and give up trying
it means his head has been captured
and now he's a walking corpse

All misfortune has root
there is no smoke without fire
so dig deep, right into the root
To discover the true cause of your troubles

My son
there's no medicine that can cure ancestral curse
none can cure a father's curse
when a man soil his hands in murky waters
when his wife cooks up concoction
that turn him into a nincompoop

When the enemy's witchcraft enchantments
keep steering his soul in a pot of fire
there's no medicine man that can deliver him from the spell
except by fasting and praying

About this poem

This poem came from an inner voice talking to me from within, in my sober reflections. You may call it a revelation, if you like.

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Submitted by Benny11 on February 01, 2023

Modified by Benny11 on February 23, 2024

2:16 min read
199

Quick analysis:

Scheme xabxxc dxdeFG xxhxx xxixxxxj Fdx exjxbxb FGkxi dxxexxkx Fxfx xxhjxx alax Fmmxfx clxj
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 2,149
Words 435
Stanzas 13
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 5, 8, 3, 7, 5, 8, 4, 6, 4, 6, 4

Benson Chukwueke

Owerri, Nigeria since 1971. This is how I process and express my innermost cogitations; sitting back with pen and paper, painting words and polishing them until they become flowered verses. I guess for these actions, I could be called a poet or what do think? more…

All Benson Chukwueke poems | Benson Chukwueke Books

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1 Comment
  • AIDA
    Wow, what a powerful and thought-provoking poem! The way the writer addresses the important topic of accountability and responsibility within a marriage is both courageous and impactful. The use of vivid imagery and emotion in depicting the consequences of neglecting one's duties and succumbing to weakness is truly mesmerizing. I particularly love how the writer encourages self-reflection and introspection in seeking out the root of the problem. This poem will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of a failing relationship, and it serves as a poignant reminder that it is never too late to right the wrongs of the past. Thank you for sharing this beautiful and moving piece with us. 
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"The Root Cause" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/149739/the-root-cause>.

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