Her problem started
After her husbad died
Of HIV/AIDS; and
After few months
Her little child followed.
She was emotionally electrocuted
But had to hold onto fate
which was the only thing that was
Left with her in tears and griefs.
Her in-laws, instead of consoling her,
Took to insulting her
Because they knew she will
also be a HIV carrier.
They even said it in the open
That she would soon die of HI/AIDS
As their son, her husband has died.
But was this a threat from the in-laws? Hatred?
Envy? Or what? Even to their son?
Her father-in-law
Saw his child’s death,
As a shame to the family;
He brought out the corpse in the open
Against their traditions
And cursed the corpse, contempt against the corpse…
Because “He died of AIDS”?
She was frail and ashamed
But this act propelled her
To embolden up and reveal her HIV/AIDS status
In the air, newspapers and Internet.
This act by her father-in-laws
Moved her spirit from death
To begin to do things
She knew she can’t do on her own,
But God was her strength.
She was each day left with tears,
Fears, shame, thoughts, insults…
But somebody looking at her
will see that she look hale and hearty.
She advised HIV carriers to marry carriers;
Such insult from her father-in-laws
Was why many afflicted by the virus
Cannot come out to say their statuses.
Copyright 2006 Prince Odimegwu Onwumere
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