Lily of The Nile
A Black Girl’s Introduction To Change
Tears mean we’ve been strong for too long
As she tended to the foliage in her mother’s garden, Abanbanu, whose name means beautiful girl in Persian and Iranian, let a tear roll down her cheek.
Her mother walked over and kneeled down beside her. She gently rubbed her back. Abanbanu sobbed, “I don’t understand why we had to move away from all of my friends. I know it was the hood but my friends live there."
Don’t be afraid to experience something new
Her mother pointed to a lavender-pink flower. The sweet smell was so potent the delightful scent lingered in the air.
“That flower is called a Lily of the Nile,” As the two stood to their feet they both gazed affectionately at the sunlight. “Do you know why that flower looks and smells so good?" Her mother asked never taking her eyes off the sun. She loved spending time with her daughter in the garden more than Abanbanu would ever know.
Abanbanu thought carefully and shook her head no.
“That flower grew to be delicate and breathtaking because from a seedling it was planted in well-drained soil and got lots of sunlight.”
Learn Acceptance
As much as she missed her friends Abanbanu understood what her mother meant. “Drive by shootings and drug dealing is not a place that has lots of sunlight for a seedling like you,” her mother said softly.
Abanbanu’s tears begin to dry. Her mother continued, “The Lily of the Nile won’t grow much if it stays in the shade all the time and never receives sunlight." With her daughter’s face cupped in her hands she looked in her daughter’s big, brown and curious eyes and said: “You’re my Lily of the Nile."
Know When It’s Time To Rejuvenate
Abanbanu’s mother wiped a droplet of sweat from her brow. “Let’s go inside and make some homemade lemonade infused with honeycomb.”
Abanbanu lit up. Mama’s homemade lemonade is the best. As her mother walked ahead Abanbanu looked back up and gazed at the sun and smiled.
Photo by: Author’s own
Moral of the story:
“Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.”
Mandy Hale
When I’m not busy being a super mom, cleaning up messes, running errands and taking my autistic daughter to her medical appointments, I find time to write poetry and blog about random topics. I am an animal lover, author, jokester, poet, bibliophile, true crime stories junkie, history buff, single parent, autism advocate, educator, homeless activist, food aficionado autodidact who loves learning about everything. I grew up in West Palm Beach, Panama City and Pensacola, Florida. I currently reside in New Orleans with my two children.
