Why don't you go back to him?

Go back to him! He still loves you!
Think of the children.. they can’t grow up without a father!
He’ll change, I know the Lord is going to move and miracles will happen!
The Lord says you must forgive, so forgive him!!
Your children won’t be normal, they say that most of these tsotsis come from broken homes!
There is something that you’re not telling us... he is such a nice guy..very decent
Are you sure there isn’t somebody else?
You are young, you need a man for.. you know.. the nights can get lonely.
How will you cope with all the bills? You need a man to support you!
All men are the same, better the dog you know than the dog you don’t!
What are you looking for out there? There is nothing!!
Do you honestly think you can find a faithful man, only for yourself??
Why leave? Sort yourself out and get someone on the side! All married women are doing it and they are much happier!!!
You really think you are something special. A woman leaving a man? That’s taboo!! You are such an embarrassment.
It couldn’t have been that bad! I never saw you with black eyes!!
Fight for your marriage, you are not praying hard enough that’s why your man treats you like this!
You are lying about your marriage being a wreck, we would have seen the signs, you just want to play!
This is not how a real African woman deals with things, you should have called the elders to come and sit with you before making such a rash decision!!
All marriages are bad! Don’t fool yourself and think there’s such a thing as a happily married

A woman’s smile, so beautiful and infectious
Persuasive yet deceptive for it masks a world of hopelessness and fear
A world of depression spiralled out of control!
Yet she clings on hoping tomorrow will be better
Years go by, the situation worsens
Dominance and violence characterise her union
Shattered dreams and a broken spirit..
Dead inside..

And yet she smiles on...

A moment of consciousness, sanity prevails,
She asserts herself
Resolute and determined she asks “what if there is a better life?”
The desire to leave grows forcefully
Fear of living an incessantly dejected life
Over powers the fear of repression and violence

Rage against the one she loves now redirected to within
Remembering existence and freedom before the imprisonment of the heart
Pictures of peace and independence
Of big dreams and exuberance

She takes back her destiny
Reclaims her life...plans her escape,
And though she is weak and fragile

She still smiles on...

Strength comes from Yahweh
The mighty arms of the Lord give reassurance
Tomorrow indeed will be better

“..do not worry (for) life is more than food and the body more than clothes. ..the ravens.. do not sow or reap..yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

As she lays her head to rest, Christ smiles on her..
Fearful and anxious, eager about tomorrow

She closes her eyes ...and smiles within

By Maiyo Simapungula