Never mind the headlines,
The horror and the chaos
Never mind the headlines,
Keep mindful of the good news!
The good news that will linger
More than an ice cream,
Keep a smile for the good news!
|
The graduate! |
The good news:
On part of a Caribbean island
In a remote mountain zone,
A young woman took charge,
Took her sewing machine and
Most of her husband’s earnings
And invested in training for herself
|
Made by herself |
|
By herself! |
|
Not a sweatshop, it's a school! |
The good news: Kloteed just graduated Level I, with
A State certificate and
Can now support her family, sewing school uniforms
- and clothing for children, and women.
She surprised me with a dress just my size,
In gratitude, she shared what she had.
More good news:
Water flows, through pipes and a spigot
In that remote mountain zone!
For the water project, Senilus brought us yam guinee,
it tastes a bit like pomme
de terre -
In gratitude, he shared what he had.
After bathing,
The boy, Nelinsky, carried over a pot of hot fresh cow’s
milk,
A rare treat, in gratitude, he shared what he had.
For the water project, Evensline brought over a hand of banana
She shared what she
had.
Other news?
Back home, I bought an ice cream,
One scoop small cone - exotic Early Grey or
Salted caramel, for otherwise jaded
Sophisticates -
‘Cost me Four bucks, seventy five.
It’s gone in a New York minute.
Almost the amount paid for Cash for Work, for one day,
days’ wages for one worker,
Post-earthquake in town.
But -
Never mind the headlines,
The horror and the chaos
Never mind the headlines,
Keep mindful of the good news!
The good news that will linger
More than an ice cream,
Keep a smile for the good news!