Victim of a Philanderer
09 May 2016
An entry in the 2016 Crocodile Prize
I don’t know why, but so often women are quicker
to buy into love deception than men
I never knew you, PK
We met at the dance
At Crown Plaza
You stared at me
Like I had just arrived
From Jupiter or heaven
You offered me a beer
I refused it
Never drank before
You gave me hundred kina
I rejected it
I wasn’t a whore
You wanted to dance with me
I agreed
I like dancing
Side to side
Back to back
Face to face
We rocked the floor
Like little stars
Twinkling in the sky
And you whispered
Into my ear
‘Amb mund mong’
What, I asked in confusion,
You said you love me
I reacted with laughter
You said you were serious
I posed in disbelief
The music ended
You pulled me to the bar
‘Jacobs Creek on the rocks’
You told the bar lady
Never heard of it before
Yet I waited patiently
Red wine and ice
And the endless deceptions
‘Promise me’ you said
‘Promise you what?’ I asked
‘To marry me’
‘Are you serious?’ I asked
‘I will die if you don’t,’ you said
I bought into your sweet trap
I gave you my soul
I gave you my spirit
I gave you my heart
I gave you my love
I gave you my all
You took my virginity
Now six months pregnant
You refuse to be the father
You ran away from me
You’re going around with a whore
Twice as old as me
She’s become
The apple of your eye
You ignore me
You treat me
Like a second hand rag
Used and thrown away
Only Heaven knows
How many fools like me
You’ve used them
Now I know
PK means
Philandering Kange
For the rest of my life
I will live in humiliation
With a fatherless child
Poor fool me
O Heaven
Curse me to death
A poem that speaks reality. It's happening as we speak in this modern day society.
Posted by: Martinez Wasuak | 10 May 2016 at 04:00 PM
Gary, what I frequently hear over the airwaves and like is Jigs Ambe by Joe Kema. Both songs have somewhat similar lyrics about Amb Mundmong and elements of denial of friendship.
The verse is created as a food for thought for young girls to be more cautious when they are courting young men for fun or for marriage.
Posted by: Francis Nii | 10 May 2016 at 10:07 AM
"Amb Mundmong"? How would you translate it? "Woman of my Heart"? "Lewa"? "My special one"?
In his song 'Mulo', Augustine Emil refers to a "Amb Kaiwe Mundmong" - in the Hagen area this was interpreted as referring to a particular young woman from Kaiwe market outside Hagen who apparently was known to Augustine Emil.
Francis, I think that your poem captures very well the sense of betrayal that the young woman feels.
Posted by: Garry Roche | 10 May 2016 at 12:16 AM