My Son

Stephanie Alois

Keith Jackson & Friends: PNG Attitude, 30 June 2022

I’ll give you the world my little one / I’ll raise you properly-even with father gone / So rock-a-bye baby / Don’t you ever cry / Grow child grow, grow up and be a better man

STEPHANIE ALOIS

Your father disowned you and I cried
Silently in my heart and swallowed my pride
Isolated from the village and gossip of men
Pain, oh such sweet-bitter pain

Your tiny feet kicked and I giggled
Smiling softly; waiting to have and to hold
Happy, I’m happy to meet my baby
Alas! Now to clinic with heavy tummy
Rush, oh what a rush

Your squeak halted my tormented cries
And I smiled faintly
Holding you in my arms tenderly
Blood dripping down on clinical bed covers
Blink, you blinked at me innocently

Your tiny body washed and wrapped in sheets
Placing you in a bilum made of wool
Whisking you away on a freezing night
To our isolated home, on rocking chair I sat
With you in my arms and singing a lullaby
Rock-a-bye baby, oh sweet child sleep soundly

Your tiny hands grabbed my hair when morning came
Pulling you close and tucking you in
Only the silence witnessed my promise
I’ll give you the world my little one
I’ll raise you properly-even with father gone
So rock-a-bye baby
Don’t you ever cry
Grow child grow, grow up and be a better man