in the same lane
motorcycles, trucks, and cars
we walk, some make it
Pedestrians is the WordPress photo prompt for the week.
I have learned to share a lane with multiple vehicles and other people in Northern Uganda.
Like a morning glory
she radiates beauty
a natural gift for language
she wants to be a teacher
singing and dance comes to mind
when I think of her smile
wrap up a gift
filled with her dreams
Talia is a 20 year old young woman who lives full time at the orphanage in Gulu. She is studying to be a teacher ( she takes classes in her free time.) I can’t tell you how many times she took time away from her chores to translate lessons for me. That smile is part of her everyday beauty. If I could pay for her classes to be a teacher, I would in a heartbeat as this young woman is dedicated and intelligent.
There had been too many to count
blue eyes, brown skin
little hands big feet
from Ukraine to Uganda
silent cry the same
“Ma Ma”
Some left in a field
others on a bin
most left with nothing
and overly thin
a few were adopted
many stung by the cold
they started out young
too soon they were old
“no solution” they say
the world is too small
children too many
no parents at all
but what about hearts
of you and of me
provide for these futures
giving more free
a day down the road
there will only be one
one single orphan
and him not alone
Though there is no simple solution to helping the growing population of children without parents I do know there are two responses. One is a willingness to have a little less that others can have something and the other is to open one’s heart to the misery and the heartache of this world and make a small difference. Easy? No! Possible? Yes!!!
The children we are working with are each a treasure. There are those who have fast legs, others have beautiful voices and others could draw exceptionally if someone would give them a pencil, drawing pad and some encouragement. Most important are hands filled with love and laps with plenty of room for children.
There is a large group of orphans (refugees) that we are hoping to (help) build a center for in Northern Gulu. The opportunities range from supplying funds for bedding, shoes and clothing to coming and giving a week or two of your time in numerous areas. Interested??
my email is vesseyglobal@gmail.com
durable my Chevy truck
carried heavy loads
donkeys hard their working
animals of old
lumber on a bike seat
on flat, hills too steep
couldn’t believe my eyes
one guy on narrow street
water in large jugs
more than a person can lug
faithful bearer on wheels
tho iron it may be
The Iron Donkey is also the name of a wonderful Cafe/Guest House in Gulu with free Wi-Fi , bedrooms with shower access, and great food. If you are in Gulu, you have to stop in anything on the menu is excellent.
I was amazed at how hard men work to get their lumber, water, food, family, from one place to another.
Orphan’s voices lift to the stars
can’t keep feet from moving
notes merge harmonious
large is the circle of our song
mimicking children’s motions
I don’t want the song to end
laughter young and old
fills the skies
tired we sit on mats
our hearts still singing
as we do crafts
Jesus is smiling
*
color butterfly
children want to dance in the sky
coffee filter art
*
The video sharing the beauty of the Acholi culture.
I know that these children at Mercy Home have come from hard and lonely places. We are greeted each day with smiles of love and welcome and we end the day Dancing!
Enjoy the A to Z challenge this month!
Im also tagging on to Poets United prompt April. Spring and April give cause to dance with the blossoms.
Kind-hearted people
displaced by war
twenty five years of waiting
return to ancestral land
centuries of farming
the earth welcomes
dance steps echo
stars harmonize
our adopted family
Acholi – filled with Grace
Today is the beginning of the A to Z Challenge. It is no challenge to share the beauty of Uganda in particular the Acholi people (Northern Uganda). I dedicate this month of poetry to my dear “family” in Gulu!
Everyone is welcome to join the month long A to Z blogging challenge. It’s a great way to meet fellow bloggers.
Thank you A to Z team for hosting another year!!!
The April 2017 A to Z Challenge begins in a few days on April 1st. All bloggers are welcome to share words, photography, you.
We just returned from Uganda so I am inspired to share about this place and these people who were so welcoming and loving (so much so that we are hoping to return soon!)
Our journey took us to the northern part of Uganda the main city being Gulu. This part of Uganda has suffered greatly under the hand of The Lord’s Resistance Army.
The Acholi one of the displaced tribes are slowly moving back to ancestral land but many of the young people are staying in the cities. One man, James, told some memories as a young child of losing his home and having to hide. He is one of the stalwart who has returned to the land he loves. He is dreaming of planting a church and building a school for the people who have returned.
Under 2 sprawling trees, hope has been rekindled for a piece of Northern Uganda.
In the mirror of a water bucket I see:
A blur of color
children with bright hearts
flames cannot douse courage
little girls pump, pump, pump
feet steadily move up the hill
“more water”
little heads bear yellow water jugs
school books brown edged
blue chairs too hot to touch
ashen are next day’s reflections
parents anxious to know education’s fate
stories told, songs we sang, things we made
in the mirror of my heart
stout hearts of orphans
smiles contagious
over flow of son’s rays of love
*
Fire rages fierce
days merge breeze takes them away
color filled smiles
Today’s prompt at Poet’s United is “Mirror.”
Learning to live by the indwelling life of Christ.
Gud skaper noko nytt ved sitt Ord og sin Ande, vi kan ta imot det i tru og få oppleve at han gjer sitt verk med oss. Hans skaparkraft verkar konstuktivt i våre liv og skaper noko som er verdifullt for oss. Naturkreftene verkar nedebrytande, i fylgje entropilova, men Gud er Ånd og det som er født av hans Ande består. Jesu frelsesverk er fullbrakt og fullkome. Han er den siste Adam, som er ifrå himmelen og som for oss har vorte ei livgjevande ånd. Han gjev oss den Heilage Ande frå himmelen av berre nåde. Han gjev oss det evige livet.
Looking ahead, without looking back (too often)
Thanks for following a cowgirl on her crazy life journey.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. - Edgar Allan Poe
Hoping to make the world more beautiful
Books by author Diana Coombes
With previous posting of "Our World" on Blogger
my humanity in written form
Experiments in Creative Writing, and more ....
Poetry by Mich
FOR READERS AND ASPIRING WRITERS
Everyday musings ....Life as I see it.......my space, my reflections and thoughts !!
From Board Books to Clean YA
Cherishing the Past while Celebrating the Present
FROM ONE PARENT TO ANOTHER
Living life with dissociative identity disorder and complex ptsd
penned in moon dust 