Bryant -- 23.08.10

Tripoli Airport - Libya

Little boy,
With bright, wide eyes.
Wobbling along,
Eyes filled with wonder.
Bumping onto the floor,
Bum first.

Bustling, busy waiting room,
Filled with voices,
With bodies,
Filled with heat.

Straight up again,
He totters up to the next person.
Eyes widening further,
Taking in more mysteries.

One year, two months,
He is discovering crowds
For the first time.
Eyes constantly looking,
Face beaming,
accompanied by a cheeky little smile.


Plane from Libya to Ghana

His father and mother,
Friendly.
Trustingly,
Passing their son to us.

A family of three
Taking this journey
Onwards to Liberia.
To see their country,
Their friends,
Their family,
Those who remain.

They are returning
For the first time in 16 years.
If it is safe,
They will return to their homeland,
To Liberia.
If there is still unrest,
They will continue to live in their small village,
In Libya.

Their future...
...resting on this journey.


Almost One Year On

Thinking of this family,
Of the innocent boy with the sparkling eyes.
The friendly, trusting father,
The smiling mother.

Hoping they returned to their homeland.
Praying they avoided the troubles in Libya.

Wishing Stars

Each child makes a wish.
Sometimes they wonder
thinking of it in their head.
Sometimes they whisper it
so very quietly into their star
so that no one can hear.
Often it remains their secret.
But rarely you get the chance to hear
their hopes and dreams.

A little girl,
all dressed in pink
attempts to whisper
into her wishing star.
Too excited,
she speaks a little too loud.
Her wish so innocent,
said with a smile spread across her face:

"I wish to be a fairy"

I smile.
In my head
my wish forms:

"I wish it could come true".

Directions

I asked a man for directions to the train station.

His reply:
"The train station?
When did you lot start calling it the train station?
It's a railway station!
You lot trying to be trendy!"

I apologised and walked away.

I never realised I was a "lot"

Only in Year 6...

Three boys inquisitive boys walk into my hut.
Their mums are sitting close by.
We talk for a while and I tell them how the machine works.
They seem interested, asking more questions.

I am grateful of the company and conversation continues.
We talk of what they have seen today.
They tell me they are on their Easter holidays
And that they will soon get to eat Easter eggs.
One of the boys tells me he has had one already.

I am about to tell them I have given up chocolate
But first ask if they know what lent is.
Two of the boys put their hands up.
They tell me what they know
"It's when you make a promise."
The smallest boy proceeds to tell me his promise.

The same boy starts a new topic about the oldest boy's school.
He speaks with speed as though he can't wait to get the words out
"He used to go to {insert school name here}
But not anymore...
Some of the girls and boys kiss there!"
He quickly remembers to add
"But only in Year 6!"

Uncomfortable...

Very tall man
crouches into his
very small car.

Shoulders huched
and head bowed down.

He proceeds to drive away.