No Prize Poem by priscah Mutswenje

In the shadowed halls of bitter dismay,
A tale unfolds of a son-in-law's betrayal's display.
He walked away, leaving echoes of strife,
Abandoning grandchildren, the very heartbeat of life.

His departure, a dagger in the family's heart,
Leaving wounds so deep, tearing love apart.
Grandchildren's laughter, replaced by silence,
A void created by choices, a painful reliance.

No pride did he pay, for the joy he took away,
Leaving a legacy of sorrow, in the cold light of day.
A grandparent's love, an irreplaceable treasure,
Lost in the wake of his callous measure.

Yet, in the midst of darkness, strength shall rise,
The family united, wiping tears from their eyes.
For the abandoned ones, love will surround,
A resilience that echoes with a healing sound.

No prize can replace a grandparent's care,
But in unity, the family finds strength to bear.
Through the echoes of abandonment's cruel sound,
Love prevails, in the hearts that rebound.