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The Long Mot Arata: A Poetic Reflection

The poem explores the author's Sierra Leonean heritage and upbringing hearing tales of the long mot arata rodent from family. It reflects on feeling doubt and betrayal from praise without reason, resembling how the rodent nibbles victims in their sleep. The long mot arata comes to represent parts of one's identity that are consumed without consent or awareness.

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Mary Claire Ondiano
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202 views12 pages

The Long Mot Arata: A Poetic Reflection

The poem explores the author's Sierra Leonean heritage and upbringing hearing tales of the long mot arata rodent from family. It reflects on feeling doubt and betrayal from praise without reason, resembling how the rodent nibbles victims in their sleep. The long mot arata comes to represent parts of one's identity that are consumed without consent or awareness.

Uploaded by

Mary Claire Ondiano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PEST CONTROL

from A Brief Biography of My Name

by Yalie Saweda Kamara


Yalie Saweda Kamara
She is a Sierra Leonean-American
writer, educator, and researcher from
Oakland, California.
She is the 2022-2023 Cincinnati and
Mercantile Library Poet Laureate (2-
year term).
She is the Director of Creative Youth
Leadership at WordPlay Cincy and is an
Adjunct Assistant Professor at the
University of Cincinnati.
The long mot arata is a type of It takes tiny breaks to purse its lips
Sierra Leonean rodent that strikes and push a stream of cold wind onto
its prey in sleep. It nibbles away its target's feet, so as to offset any irritation
that may tussle the unsuspecting
at its victims while they are nestled out of slumber.
in deep recline. Its teeth sand down
calluses until they reveal scarlet Though I don't know if anyone in my
and beige flesh. family could positively identify the long
mot arata in a lineup of offenders,
Though its stomach collapses their certitude of the mouse's
under the anvil of hunger, existence is irrefutable; it lies in the way
this mouse has principle.
For most of my life, I have been haunted
by the tale of the long mot arata, and
they express the betrayal they have often
taught to question my friends just like these
felt at daybreak. They are disturbed by
creatures, to doubt the admiration of anyone
the scene: short brown hairs flecked
who loves me without good enough reason,
on the bed and maroon paw prints inked
to look for punctured heels following any
by their own blood.
explosion of praise leaving a familiar mouth.

Not even the simple act of rest comes I had fallen many times from this spell:
without profound suffering. the cool current passing over my toes
before seeing a bit of myself hanging
from your smiling lips. My wound, a
trace of your icy-breath desire to
take my feet and walk away from me.
I have gathered all of your forgotten
fur from my nightstand drawer and
plastered it to my body.

The moon makes an indigo silhouette


of your whiskers and snout.
Still and quiet, I wonder just when
you will notice how long you have been
eating yourself in the dark.
POETIC VISION
Self Discovery
Acceptance of
Identity
Do you have any
questions?
THANK
YOU!
[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]
Activity
Question:

What can you concur


about the author's
identity in the
poem?
Question:

How does the rodent,


long mot arata
teaches the author
an important lesson
in the poem?
Question:

What does the long


mot arata imply in
the poem?

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