maidens of the bride.

ten of us, all of us, all cousins of the bride,
ten of us, all of us, all maidens of the bride.

the home in the village was decorated in grandeur;
tents, balloons, clear blue sky above the compounds green pastures;
uncles, aunts, the arcbishop and village neighbours;
children, high tables, food, drinks and plastic chairs.

ten of us, all of us, seated among the crowd,
waiting, anticipating, wondering aloud.
ten of us, all of us, looking plain and unclad
to the unsuspecting guests, and searching lads.

bustling, hurrying, organising and yelling,
boy cousins carrying, uncles ordering,
waiters serving and aunties preparing,
people gossipping and other girl cousins helping.

ten of us sitting, ten of us watching,
ten of us wondering where to offer some helping.
but no helping is demanded of lucky us;
as maidens of the bride, our job is 'sit, enjoy and relax'.

mass service is ending,
the in-laws to be are arriving,
drama groups are entertaining,
guests are chatting and enjoying.

ten of us, all of us, locked up in one room
wearing soft pink and white traditional Ankole attire with high-heeled shoes.

hustling and bustling, hurrying again,
the in-laws, warmly welcomed, are absolutely impressed.

ten of us, all of us, young and unmarried,
painting our lips and eyelids and combing our hair.
ten of us, all of us, chatting and enjoying,
making up, blinging, practising, comparing and final touching.

the in-laws are seated, the MC is charming,
the guests are anxious; 'when is the bride coming?'

ten of us, all of us, beautiful and shining,
giggling, knowing, that we all look stunning.
ten of us. aunties and older cousins are wondering, that
one of us perhaps, will be eyed and spotted?

the time has come, the bride is excited,
for some strange reasons, all our hearts feel uplifted.

ten of us, all of us lined up in pairs,
parading behind the bride, her shwenkazi and matron.
behind boy cousins carrying the gifts and wearing kanzus,
the dazzling pink and white entourage is justifying pride in our people.
(and in the ever-increasingly excited cow-calculating uncles).

the MC remains charming,
as it starts raining;
our stools are pushed further into the tent,
as guest's explain to each other about the rain's blessings.

ten of us quiet, as the drizzle gets light,
in full view of the guests, and stealing glances at the bride.
ten of us discussing, 'so it's tina's turn now,
have u ever seen anyone looking as fulfilled and beautiful as this bride'.

Patricia was the first in 2001,
last year it was robert, lillian and patrick,
then racheal, uncle john, carol and vincent.
this year was david and christine
(and it looks like there'll be no more breaks 'till we've married off the last 5 yr old cousin)

ten of us wondering 'could the next be me?
i should get a boyfriend, how nice that would be,
(to introduce him and show him off to this grand family)'.
ten of us imagining, fantasising away,
looking out to all the people, but our thoughts are far away.

gifts are distributed,
speeches are made.
the bride cries all through her heart-breaking speech,
and then she is given away.

ten of us, all emotional and teary-eyed,
caught up in reveries; our daydreams are alike.
ten of us, thinking, as in our hearts we smile and sigh;
'perhaps this is how my kuhingira should be, when i'm discovered by my guy'.

the in-laws are happy, proud and rejoicing.
they really like this bride, whom they've gladly received.
we have served the cake, and taken our seats.
it is the end of the day, the archbishop prays before we all leave.

ten of us dancing, back into the house,
in pairs again, escorting the bride who's full of laughter.
the in-laws have spotted, and promised to return;
they have more sons, and we are (at least) ten daughters.

it is late nighttime,
the in-laws are leaving.
God has been greatly praised,
there's joy in the farewell's and thanksgiving.

ten of us, satisfied. our work is done, all has gone well.
chatting and teasing, we all smile for the cameramen.
ten of us. thoughts of the future are sweet and swell.
but that will be then. today, we're the bride's maidens.