Two Poems

Revival

This afternoon, I sat by the beach and let the waves teach me persistence; teach me what it means to be there, to move and yet not change, to embrace the shore, and still keep it so free, caressing it, yet receding to gather strength for renewed embracing.

Yes! Today these waves taught me all this; beckoning, but not demanding, reaching, but not forcing, secretly whispering of lands they once saw; accentuating histories of wars and ships, canons, boats, guns and bullets, of conquistadors, uncle toms of the kings: oh! these waves, how troubled they were by the power-hungry meanderings.

These waters, simple, yet so complex; Complex, yet powerfully simple, claim not the treasures that they possess; relax, but never sleep, own everything, but relate nothing seemingly changing, yet they know only the art of being; they express the sentiments of the only language of caring; it has no specific words; its expressions are universal, its translations are multinational, it needs no words for its survival, though words have often flavoured its revival

Physically Challenged

When I first wrote of persons needing help to move about, to go up and down I had not sent things as I do now.

Months ago, I visited a foreign country I saw several physically challenged persons driving mobility vehicles or being driven on the streets No television cameras, only curious eyes asking, without words, what was the problem Why the wheel chair, why the scooter? Multiple sclerosis, type A or B? Was it diabetes, or another illness?

The vehicle operator had other concerns— Looking at the condition of the streets Looking for signs of welcome Signs that say, not with words written “We expected you! Have a nice day!” See? We’ve adjusted our sidewalks We’ve graded their entry and exit points To facilitate your mobility vehicles All for your comfort, and for children too For pedestrians, for scooter and Wheel-chair users, persons bothered By arthritis, joggers, runners, anyone and everyone, old and young. And then I returned to my country There, as if waiting to tease me A woman, near Grand Anse Beach Resort, on a scooter Trying to get to the supermarket and places nearby Thank God she had someone A friend or a relative who stopped several times Lifted heavy scooter and lady over irregular holes And up and down steps, just to get on and off The sidewalk.

I wish I could’ve said something nice something encouraging something to reassure me that they were not losing hope that they might come to our land again not just for sun, surf, sky, sand and sea