Weary Mother Earth

My grandfather in a small village in India used to say,

natural disasters happen when Mother Earth’s load is too heavy to bear,

from time to time, she is forced to lighten the load.

But why must she so often shake off they,

who have so little to begin with?

Who hardly possess her at all?

Not those who would have her in chains?

A tsunami in Asia,

the hurricane called Katrina,

And now, an earthquake with no name,

wickedly, deliberately, unearthing,

what was already broken in Haiti.

Centuries of freedom suppressed,

in pleading voices,

in wary eyes of hopeful children,

it’s “okay” to help them now.

Our Avatars shall save them now.

Our journalists ask them:

“Are you devastated?”

“How will you provide for your family?”

As they are lifting themselves up from the dirt.

Thinking on my grandfather’s words,

I was angry with Mother Earth,

for shedding her children so coldly.

I was bitter.

Yet, if there are even a few in Haiti, New Orleans, Asia declaring,

they have been protected and spared by God’s will,

who are smiling and singing as they are removed from wreckage,

who are happy just to be living,

how can I be so mad?

Whose reality is it?

***

Thanks for reading this reflection that came forth after a long silence, a loss of words for the situation in Haiti. On a more concrete note:

• If you have any suggestions for ways to help the relief efforts, please do post a comment below. Or get in touch and post yourself. I recently gave to Partners in Health.
• In reading about Jacob Colker's Extraordinaries micro-volunteering site, I found that he has created a Haiti Earthquake Support Center where you can help tag images from news pictures, match missing persons photos with database images, etc. from your own home. A small but great way to help for those who are interested.