My father - Madeleine de Lallé

My father spoke little.

But on these evenings of sublime beauty

When he wanted to say something,

I remember how I stayed

To meditate on the words and the silences

That animated his face.

I was far from understanding

That thus he trained my little steps

Along life's path.

I relive the gentle and graceful gestures

that accompanied his words

With slow deliberation.

---

Madeleine de Lallé [Madeleine Ki Kabore] (20th century) Burkina Faso

Translated by Bruce Levitan (partially using Google Translate)

Source: Lire les Femmes Ecrivains et les Litératures Africaines