March 7th; the Grandmothers
The Earth is a Satellite of the Moon
by Leonel Raguma, Sandinista, 1949-70
Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.
Apollo 3 cost more than Apollo 2
Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.
Apollo 4 cost more than Apollo 3
Apollo 3 cost more than Apollo 2
Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.
Apollo 8 cost a fortune, but no one minded
because the astronauts were Protestant
they read the Bible from the moon
astounding and delighting every Christian
and on their return Pope Paul VI gave them his blessing.
Apollo 9 cost more than than all these put together
including Apollo I which cost plenty.
The great-grandparents of the people of Acahaulinca were less
hungry than the grandparents.
The great-grandparents died of hunger.
The grandparents of the people of Acahaulinca were less
hungry than the parents.
The grandparents died of hunger.
The parents of the people of Acahaulinca were less
hungry than the children of the people there.
The parents died of hunger.
The people of Acahaulinca are less hungry than the children
of the people there.
The children of the people of Acahaulinca, because of hunger,
are not born
they hunger to be born, only to die of hunger.
Blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the moon.
After a few more hours of sleep, Dr. Steve and I head into the kitchen to prepare a breakfast of eggs and rice. After breakfast we pack a bag for the day's outing: Suzanne is taking us to visit two grandmothers. Our driver takes us through Gilgil, across the highway and into one of the more dangerous housing projects of Kenya, where the grandmothers live in mud, twig, and wooden huts. The weather is dry and windy, and the air carries the scent of salt from nearby Lake Elementaita. Although the region is apparently an unsafe destination for a Muzungu tourist, the environment in no way feels threatening. Unlike the urban slums of Nairobi, each house rests on quarter acre lots that are clean and well-kept, and the homes have a natural, artful look to them; made by hand from earth, manure, and sticks.
The fist home we visit is nestled in a forest of acacia trees, pepper trees, and thick cacti. Stepping out of the car, Suzanne introduces us to Grandmother Kikuyu, who greets us warmly and welcomes us inside her home. Grandmother Kikuye's living room is arranged with wooden furniture draped in vibrant cloth, and the floor is composed of packed soil. Grandmother Kikuyu begins to speak in Swahili, a beautiful and fluid language, and Susan translates her medical history to Dr. Steve. Grandmother Kikuyu is experiencing problems with her ribs and has suffered from malaria. She also has difficulty because clean water is so far away and, at 89 years, she can no longer make the long journey.
Although Grandmother Kikuyu is a farmer, the furrows in her small garden are barren due to the prolonged drought, and she supports herself by weaving blankets and winding baskets. As Grandmother Kikuyu speaks with Dr. Steve, a young boy wearing a bright smile and an over-large sweater comes running up and leaps onto Suzanne, holding her legs in a welcoming embrace. Suzanne introduces us to Moses, Grandmother Kikuyu's grandson, a very bright child who is struggling with hyperactivity. Moses also suffered a bout of malaria and pneumonia recently. Dr. Steve requests that Moses refrain from sweets, and checks his lungs and heart, finding him in good health despite his hyperactivity.
Once Moses heads back to school, we say goodbye to Grandmother Kikuyu and drive to the home of Grandmother Milkewanbui. Grandmother Milkewanbui is 75 years old and lives in a simple house made with wooden slats and a cement floor. Photographs of family, artwork, and a large portrayal of Jesus Christ hang from the wall in her living room, and the ceiling is stapled with cloth to keep out the rain. Bald-headed chickens anxiously rut for tubers outside, occasionally venturing inside to bob around our feet.
Grandmother Milkewanbui has a strong constitution and is in good health. Dr. Steve takes her medical history and goes through the physical exam while Grandmother Milkewanbui and Susan catch up on things. After saying our goodbyes, Suzanne tells Dr. Steve and I that Grandmother Milkewanbui has raised 15 children. 8 of these children have died of AIDS, and her husband has passed as well. Because many of her children have passed on, or are otherwise incapable of raising a child, Grandmother Milkewanbui has also raised 21 of her grandchildren only to see many of them die from AIDS or other infectious diseases.
On our way to the car, we pass Grandmother Milkewanbui's small graveyard, where, over the years, she has buried the majority of her family.
"Rats and roaches live by competition under the law of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy."
~ Wendell Berry
by Leonel Raguma, Sandinista, 1949-70
Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.
Apollo 3 cost more than Apollo 2
Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.
Apollo 4 cost more than Apollo 3
Apollo 3 cost more than Apollo 2
Apollo 2 cost more than Apollo 1
Apollo 1 cost plenty.
Apollo 8 cost a fortune, but no one minded
because the astronauts were Protestant
they read the Bible from the moon
astounding and delighting every Christian
and on their return Pope Paul VI gave them his blessing.
Apollo 9 cost more than than all these put together
including Apollo I which cost plenty.
The great-grandparents of the people of Acahaulinca were less
hungry than the grandparents.
The great-grandparents died of hunger.
The grandparents of the people of Acahaulinca were less
hungry than the parents.
The grandparents died of hunger.
The parents of the people of Acahaulinca were less
hungry than the children of the people there.
The parents died of hunger.
The people of Acahaulinca are less hungry than the children
of the people there.
The children of the people of Acahaulinca, because of hunger,
are not born
they hunger to be born, only to die of hunger.
Blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the moon.
...
 |
| Me, Grandmother Kikuye, and Dr. Steve |
 |
| Grandmother Kikuye |
Although Grandmother Kikuyu is a farmer, the furrows in her small garden are barren due to the prolonged drought, and she supports herself by weaving blankets and winding baskets. As Grandmother Kikuyu speaks with Dr. Steve, a young boy wearing a bright smile and an over-large sweater comes running up and leaps onto Suzanne, holding her legs in a welcoming embrace. Suzanne introduces us to Moses, Grandmother Kikuyu's grandson, a very bright child who is struggling with hyperactivity. Moses also suffered a bout of malaria and pneumonia recently. Dr. Steve requests that Moses refrain from sweets, and checks his lungs and heart, finding him in good health despite his hyperactivity.
 |
| Dr. Steve and Moses |
Grandmother Milkewanbui has a strong constitution and is in good health. Dr. Steve takes her medical history and goes through the physical exam while Grandmother Milkewanbui and Susan catch up on things. After saying our goodbyes, Suzanne tells Dr. Steve and I that Grandmother Milkewanbui has raised 15 children. 8 of these children have died of AIDS, and her husband has passed as well. Because many of her children have passed on, or are otherwise incapable of raising a child, Grandmother Milkewanbui has also raised 21 of her grandchildren only to see many of them die from AIDS or other infectious diseases.
On our way to the car, we pass Grandmother Milkewanbui's small graveyard, where, over the years, she has buried the majority of her family.
...
"Rats and roaches live by competition under the law of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy."
~ Wendell Berry
posted by Shawn Solomon Morris at
15:54
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