Poetry

Sitting in the back of our Land Cruiser
Three Ethiopian men in front
Concerned for our comfort
Refusing pleas to share our seat
I'm reminded of how I haven't written poetry in almost 5 years
A desert of stifled thought
The words now run ahead of me
I can't keep up
Surprised by milk and honey
Sprinting to the promised land of home

Prima Cafe

Downtown Addis "22"
Espresso doused over hot frothy milk
Streaming down this delicacy like chocolate syrup over ice cream
I ordered two
Zena I wish you were here

Coffee

We sat in an apartment smaller than our
Living room
The smell of roasted coffee and heated milk wafted into
My very pulse
We ate grain fired and browned and drank the rich dark drink
My caverns under earth and day were seen
Time given for time itself to know and be known
Kids playing Connect Four
The exchange of relationship lingered like a drawn out candle
The wax of communion dripping down
Warmth of friend and fortune
Hospitality like I'd never imagined
I don't want to leave
Ethiopia

Dec. 30th

Joy arrived (late-comers and early ones)
Wedding clothes on
Some exquisite with fine material, shining golds
And deep azures
Others mud-stained
Joy dressed with oozing eyes
And the eagerness of poverty
Lens peeking in
For a matrimony
Joy strewn over the water-logged ceiling with
Streamers and half blown balloons
A processional of joy
In song, girl, boy, candle and beaded basket
Joy encapsulated inside piercing expression of an Ethiopian man
In love
An exhortation wrapped in joy
Gift of word and wisdom
Joy in a face so bright and lit with the flame of
Contentment
Joy in a drum beat and African chant
Joy's generosity laid out at the feet of the Beloved
Joy bestowing a new identity
Every kiss, greeting and hand clasped
All from joy
All for you

First Flight

Tears
For my girl
I love my girl Lord
You, only you know
You know how much I have already failed a four year old
And, how much emotion for her lies beneath the thin layer of ice on the
River
I wanted to start the trip out leaving these tears behind
And here they are flowing out
I am thinking of Eden Joy
Her sweet face
Waving goodbye to me from the window
The signed fingers saying "I love you"
Sometimes I feel like I am on one side of the river
And she on the other
Yet the river is wide
And it's banks are lined with wildflowers and rushes
Reeds and sunlight
Precious coves of sand
Places to sit and wonder
Water spiders dancing
For my baby

Poem for You

I wrote this while transitioning continents. Its of someone I love dearly.

I thought of you today
I have your earrings on
Dangling jewels of recollection
An adornment of friendship
Quiet acceptance
Waiting love
Calm strength
Hoping through seasons
Forbearance
These things I cherish in you
I wear you with me
I think of why people love you so much-
And I smile
When loneliness hits like a sudden shift in
Weather
And I'm left with the raw need for the
Rain that didn't seep deep enough
I remember the gift of you
Right next door