Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Ndota Yangu

My heaven would have fields of coffee growing in coffee-colored soil. Avocados, citrus, mangoes, flowers, and green as far as the eye can see. Women hold on their heads bundles of bananas fanning outward like giant pinecones. Music that can lift you while the drums keep you steady. Perfect weather, ease with strangers... Tanzania.
Along the slow trails of the mountain of peoples' dreams, thousands of people sigh in disbelief. They stack rounded rocks on top of each other: towers of anonymous evidence. Circles on circles, the porters climb with stangers' bags on their heads like moving stone tower testaments. The line between life and rock blurs in the haze of the sun whom you climb to meet.
In the green valleys below, a different dream. It sings a song your body knows, that your memory had forgotten. Sound of music mountains make an arena of the Ngoro Ngoro crater. Elephants, gazelles, waterbuck, water baffalo, zebra, hyenas, lions, rhinos, hippos, babboons all dance among each other and a bird for every feeling you have yet to feel. The zebras pose modern art against a backdrop of water color impressionism. Taking it all in settles you. This prehistoric Eden recalls some biological memory of the real world before mechanical buzzing overpowered its song.
Turn up the hoofbeat, let the grasses aplaud, listen with awe as your bones sing along.






3 comments:

Cynthia said...

Whoa, Kate, I'm glad you're still functioning! Sorry the climb was so painful......As Mandy said, she didn't linger at the top either - but as for reasons for trying to summit - well, I guess there are many. And many reasons to do any climbing (I get very annoyed with Everest climbers who consistently put the lives of the natives in jeopardy and consider it reflects well on themselves). But what a beautiful part of Africa, yes? Your safari shots - identical to ours! I felt like I was there with you, so thank you :)
When you returned to Senegal I told Jan "At least she is safe at home" - meaning Dakar. You can imagine your mom's response! We all do worry about you and love you!!! xoxoox

heatherness said...

I told my students today about Kilimanjaro, the safari/ animals by your tent, and your work in Senegal (girl empowerment and malaria nets). They soaked up every word and can't wait to hear more or see pictures. They related the mosquito nets to experiences in Brazil. Anyway, we are all so impressed by you! Maybe I can quote some of this post when I talk about "poetic voice" next week for our poetry unit. They will love the animal pictures. Looks better than National Geographic! wow...soooo cool!
love you!!!!

Tracy said...

Wow, Kay, you are so awesome! Great work there, my love, keep up the great work, you are so awesome! Kilamanjaro looks amazing - just like you! Miss and love you!