Thursday, May 21, 2009

poetry and life in community

This afternoon was part of my weekly free time. Free time is very important for creativity. I wrote these:

"Afternoon Off psalm"
The Lord reigns.
The Lord is high above the clouds, above the blue, above the sun.
The Lord filters down through the leaves and the noise of construction and traffic.
The Lord perches on top of Colpatria building, smiling on his people.
The Lord leaps --- and flies over his city; pigeons roaming about.
The Lord reigns; in Bogota.
The Lord makes grass grow beneath my toes in Parque Nacional.
The Lord is with us, took on flesh and lowered himself.
The Lord smiles with me at birdsong and sunshine.
The Lord weeps for the broken ones.
The Lord cries for the teenager searching through garbage, for the woman standing in the doorway, for the addict, for the displaced, for the child who roams and trusts no one.
The Lord aches for the chic of the North, for the bohemian in La Candelaria, for the businessman, for the university student, for the disenchanted.
The Lord is here, and yet they have not seen him, nor heard him, nor asked for whom he smiles and cries.
The Lord smiles, and cries, for us.
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I firmly believe that mankind was created to enjoy nights like these (among many other things).
This evening I walked down to the Thirty with the world.
They, to their homes, or out for dinner, or to the hospital Mederi - by which name nobody knows it - formerly San Pedro Clavel, or to wherever the first bus that passes would carry them.
I, to meet my friend and pick up my child.
_______________________________________________________

So I had a great afternoon, after a day at work that wasn't bad, but also just wasn't my day. Then I was happy to go pick up J. from Madeline at about 6:30. My plan was that we would go buy chicken pastelillos from the bakery as a treat for us both, then eat and get him to bed.
At 6:45 I got a call that they were still in the north -- at that time of day a 30-minute bus ride at the very least, and I like to have him in bed by 7:30... and they were about to get pizza.
Living in community is difficult. Add a pre-schooler and his routine into the mix and it gets more complicated. He didn't get to sleep until 8:45, and that was when he passed out in the taxi after we left earlier than they wanted me to (because he couldn't get to sleep on the mattress in the office). I am frustrated.

1 comment:

mary deff said...

you will get the hang of not getting a preschooler to sleep. at least i think you will.
ah, a mom is a very difficult thing, and you have to start with an older child.
here is what i have learned so far, never be in a hurry, take you time for everything. you can never over think your packing, and be patient. never let them see you lose patience anyway.
ah i miss you. i wish we could hang out some time.
it has been a loong time.
if you want to visit some day we will take care of you.