Thursday, May 31, 2012

May 31 - Fogon Duty


The guys build a stove
From the ground up. Mud and bricks
Ash to keep things cool

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

May 30 - We Take the Angelitos Felices Kids to the Pool


These kids swim like they'll
never get the chance again
So hungry for fun

May 29 - UVic Sends Out The Big Announcement


The news broke today
Doctorate of laws for me
Facebook friends go wild

Monday, May 28, 2012

May 28 - Kind of Late to Ask If I'm Coming to the Meeting


It's an odd thing when
Merlin calls from La Ceiba
As if he forgot

May 27 - This Is No Place for Children


The orphanage reeks
A baby sleeps in a pile
of dirt and shorn hair

Saturday, May 26, 2012

May 26 - The Rainy Season Sets In


It rains more these days
The heat builds in the mornings
Then the sky explodes

Friday, May 25, 2012

May 25 - I Depend on Being Wired


It has come to this:
Work stops without Internet
I go home early

Thursday, May 24, 2012

May 24 - Rendicion de Cuentas in La Cuchilla


Kitten on my lap
Flies on my legs. This is how
They do meetings here

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

May 23 - Something To Brighten Up That Place


I should be working
But surely making posters
for the orphans counts




Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Sunday, May 20, 2012

May 20 - Me and Windows MovieMaker Get Reacquainted


It's good to be back
Mixing sad songs and photos
To make people cry

May 19 - At the Cabildo Infantil


Only the brave would
Try to organize children
Into committees

Friday, May 18, 2012

Thursday, May 17, 2012

May 16 - Poco a Poco


Spanish PowerPoint
Suggests I've come a long way
Fluency? Not yet

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Monday, May 14, 2012

May 13 - My Concert at Carrizalito I


Dark roads and strangers
Lead me high above the town
Children dance and sing

May 12 - The Kids of Angelita Hogar


So hungry for touch
He takes my hands to bounce and
Ten more come running

Friday, May 11, 2012

May 11 - Man, It's Hot Here


This is a country
That requires a lot of fans
We've got two blowing

May 10 - Settling into Hacienda Grande for a Long, Long Meeting


We take the table
near the garden, and don't move
for seven hours

May 9 - Things Pick Up


Either I've learned how
to work in this new culture
Or I'm busier

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

May 8 - Visitors from Afar in the Office


My boss says I should
join him for a meeting, which
goes on much too long

May 7 - An Afternoon Walk in El Bosque


Just me and the birds
Hanging out at the Ruins
My exotic yard



Monday, May 7, 2012

May 6 - Swapping Music for Meals


A night of music
Leads to another fine meal
Atop the terrace

Sunday, May 6, 2012

May 5 - Adventures at the Orphanage: Trying to Hang Laundry



The clothes are wet and
Smelly, and our bad clothesline
Keeps falling over

May 4 - A Road Trip to Las Flores



The model farm of
Don Humberto impresses
The Christian Aid rep

Thursday, May 3, 2012

May 3 - Weird Things Always Happen When I Come Here


She's well past the age
of breasts that give milk, but this
strange child takes comfort

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

May 2 - The Bug Returns to Our House


Whatever got me
Has now got Paul, or was it
the meat fest last night?

May 1 - A Trip to Aguas Termales for Dia de los Trabajadores


Much meat and swimming
And a bone-shaking ride in
The back of a truck

Apr. 30 - Feels Like Late July in Kamloops


It's a rare day when
I would choose to sit inside
Even the birds pant