Our loved ones
our life and hope
the gathered wisdom
accumulated
in the soil
the land
the earth
the animals
the plants
the sky
The spirit of our people
shared
linking us
calling us forth
‘tis the ancestors in the voices
of us all
in the children
and their dark faces
receptacles of light
shining forth
big, gleaming teeth
in fantastic smiles
joyous waves
and buoyant shouts
seen
shared
and experienced
only if we
are
present
striving
connecting
and hoping against all
in diverse unity
with our God
of small joys.