|
Poetry Spotlight: Simplicity |
|
|
|
Written by Brian Crouth, National Demo Coordinator
|
Brian Crouth traveled to Nicaragua this past January as part of a Lutheran World Relief delegation. He wrote the following poem at the conclusion of his trip.
There's a lot that's not charming about rural life in Nicaragua:
Rice and beans three times a day,
Itchy eyes and a cough from a stick burning stove;
Stumbling in the dark to find the outdoor privy
While dogs on watch bark and wake up your host family;
A cold water hose to wash by,
Concerns of malaria and parasites.
And yet there is a beauty within it all:
Everyone smiles, no one seems to complain,
Early to bed when the sun sets
For lack of electricity;
Children, children everywhere,
Loved and cared for by the community,
Their de facto extended family;
Incredible vistas from hillsides
Of coffee plants, cacao, and corn,
Tortillas made daily by light of fire.
Artisans everyone by how they
Live, work, eat and play –
A rhythm of Life that repeats itself each day.
Back home again, this simplicity some of us long for.
Faced with too many options – what to eat, what to wear –
Will we make the wrong choices we fear?
Teeth whiteners and hair conditioners;
Drowning amidst emails and papers
Piled high on office chairs.
Do we really have a choice in the matter
Anymore than our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua? |
 |
|
Our Co-op 
