KILIMANJARO POETRY Continued (5): Poems 8 and 9 (of 9)
The two poems that follow look at transitioning back to reality—our own world of others and the Tanzanian roadscape that we found ourselves traveling through (Kilimanjaro, behind and above the clouds and the meaning it may imbue, personally and locally).
8. Explaining to Others
Explaining to others
Is hard to do
The pain, the gain
The fight, the plight
The keeping going
The inner knowing
The turning of day into night
And night into day
Snow, ice, wind
Burned our faces
Wounds as traces
We know we were there
Our bodies too
But, pinch me now
To put into words
That others can understand
Peek experiences
Intended to be shared
Special moments are private
But things done together
No matter the weather
Give other rewards
A chance of a lifetime experience
Something to hold dear
Especially when others with you have been near.
9. On the Road
Dust and dirt
Fumes and noise
Back to a reality of sorts
The adventure continues
Skinny goats and cows
Bones protruding
Roadside huts and store fronts
Locals milling
Even for a shilling
Coca Cola clearly the drink of choice
Celtel the monopoly for text and voice
The two biggest advertisers influence
But, where’s the opulence?
You decide
Rich dyes and prints
Each unique
Make wonderful clothes
Women with basket trays of bananas on head
Make a colorful scene
As do their children
School uniforms pristine
About the rest
It’s hard to know yet
Smiles on faces
Police checkpoints enforced
An order amid chaos
Slowly, slowly—pole, pole
Donkeys travel the same road as cars
But many locals walking and talking
Active and out there
Not the most progressive place in the world
But, does that matter?
Western eyes quick to judge
Western minds quick to nudge
Leave these people be
If they’re in harmony
The vibrancy of the plants say it all
Potted for purchase on the curbside
Jacarandas high above
A haze of blue and mauve
Bougainvillea
Dashes of pink
Makes you think.
