A Poem From Burundi
A stunningly Beautiful poem from our poet-doctor-activist, Sri, who is currently in Burundi, serving in a small rural clinic. From the midst of Kigutu’s harsh realities come his moving stories and innermost reflections. He writes not just as a compassionate doctor pushed to the boundaries of his ability, but as a deeply human poet who sings of both suffering and its overcoming with powerful presence.
right now
the sky cracked open
and rain flowed fast into every crevice on the
red african mud
the gray sky
caught its breath like a child
before crying again
all the day
as we whispered/
never again
/daniel(age 6)
/never again/
neftar(age 8)
/
never again/
joseyln(age 32)
never again
between deaths
they
seemed to die
again and again
a cadence before
calamity
today
those that slip silent
into the soil
are finally mourned
right now...
by the sulky sky
and maybe
i was mistaken
maybe
all spring long
the sun setting wasn't
actually
god turning his back on kigutu altogether
Check out a couple of Sri's diary entries.
Posted by Viral Mehta on Jun 13, 2009