Anger Games

Sue Muraya, Kenya

My father had a bunch of red clothes
He used to wear them at the dinner table
And the reflection would burn my mother's eyes
While all she wore in my father's presence
Was her simple white gown that my father got her

My mother had a bunch of red clothes
But I was the only one who knew she had them
Because she wore them in front of me
In the kitchen after dinner
While I was doing the dishes

I never had a single red cloth
The only red I was allowed to own
Was my bottle of red ink
I'd lock myself after doing the dishes
And I'd write all of my poetry in red

I'd always write what I dreamt about most
That unlike my mother
I will buy a blood-soaked gown
And I might wear it around town
Every once in a while
But never in my home
Never in front of my children

Sue is a 20-year old Kenyan girl who loves writing poetry and is currently pursuing Performing arts and film technology.