Liberian Literary Magazine
Promoting Liberian Literature, Arts and Culture
Matenneh-Rose L. Dunbar
It was being picked off the husk for sale
It was spread out on the table in portions
It was a point of attraction in the dingy
corner
It rhymed with the skin tone of the girl
seller
It was praised as being fresh and full of
oil
It looked nice to give it a trial all the hard
work
It weighed my arms as I carried it in a
black bag
It takes me back to my younger days of
cooking
Ummmmmm Palm Butter
OUR HEARTS
Matenneh-Rose L. Dunbar
Made of only soft flesh without a bone
Made to be flexible and ready to bend
Made of how we see the world around
Made to swifter big problems suddenly
Our hearts plead to go on..................
Made to shed tears as a vent for hurt
Made firm by the sound of pleasantries
Made bubbly when your smile radiates
Made weak by actions of the unfriendly
Our hearts sing a song.....................
It is washed boiled and beaten in a
wooden mortar
It must be sorted out seed by seed and
juicy pulp
It has to be watered and cleanly
strained to season
It begins to boil and assorted meats
added to taste
It foams and falls all over the silver pot
but cook well
It thickens as the red coals heat the
brew soon eaten
It liquefied to a thin layer of healthy rich
red edible oil
It serves best with fufu or deepor or our
famous rice
Ummmmmmm Palm Butter...........
Made a hero by the loud acclaim of all
Made to rock against all the odds in life
Made green as a lawn new spring time
Made to glow as candles behind a glass
Our hearts rests in a cradle...................
Made to break when placed in shock
Made to rejuvenate its self-healing
Made to rosy again after the deep fall
Made to tango in lilac and purple yet
Our hearts soft but stronger than gold
PALM BUTTER
Matenneh-Rose L. Dunbar
It was a Monday and man it was humid
It was necessary to remove my coat first
It was late to go driving to the city then
It was good for a drink of the natural milk
It was a process to go and find the
hawker
It was as usual the guy in stained clothes
It was paid for three trees freshly cut
coconut
It cooled my fast as I drank it with zest
Ummmmm Palm Butter
Is a Liberian poet, a radio presenter and
a mother amongst other things. Her
popular radio show deals with issues
related to women- something she is
passionate about.
Her poetry book is expected sometime
this year.
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