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Tambu Meri in Kieta Way

WomenWENDY MORONA

| An entry in the Crocodile Prize Poetry Award

You might wonder why your mother in-law never sits next to you,
That's 'tambu meri' in Kieta Way.

You might wonder why your mother in-law never calls your name,
That's 'tambu meri' in Kieta Way.

You might wonder why your mother in-law never talks to you face to face,
That's 'tambu meri' in Kieta Way

You might wonder why your mother in-law never shakes hands with you,
That's 'tambu meri' in Kieta way.

You might wonder why I have to say this,
Save lo Kieta wei bifo yu tingting lo maritim meri Kieta.

['Understand Kieta culture before you marry a Kieta woman']

Comments

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Philip Fitzpatrick

This poem is obviously aimed at men.

Mother-in-law avoidance is very common in many societies but it is usually men who aren't allowed to interact with their mothers-in-law.

It's very common in Aboriginal groups in Australia.

I've often wondered why it doesn't work for women though.

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