Some Thoughts on my experiences...

This entry is mostly an update of what has been a wonderful, yet challenging experience for me. I have now entered my fourth month as a volunteer for FOR and I find it hard to believe that are other contexts outside of mine, where people live their lives ignoring the realities that trap so many lives into a narrow road with sharp rocks along the way. Why do humans feel that “other people’s” struggles are not their own, and reduce pandemics such as HIV/AIDS as being an “African problem”, and shove the immigration issue in the USA to being “a brown struggle” and subjugate the Middle-east as a terrorist haven, while labeling the World’s Drug issues as Colombia's? There is actually a collective impact that results from all of these and there is an US that can change the route that such problems take. Suffering, whether “ours” or “theirs” needs attention and action worldwide, as they are not isolated issues with a personal ID number on it. More so, I find it difficult to understand why struggles, like those here in Colombia get lost in the newspaper behind all the other news articles that describe the continuous War in Iraq and Afghanistan, about child labor in Vietnam and Philippines, about homicides in Johannesburg, about poverty in Mozambique and Malawi, and the long list of events and issues continues to multiply, probably parallel in numbers to the bank accounts of our current world leaders, CEO’s and celebrities. Why is it so many people feel that by reading their literature or reading a newspaper, they have done their contribution for the day as oppose to seeing it as the beginning of what they can do? I guess we should not be surprised that modern day humans, “the most civilized of the hominids” has still not figured out how to end poverty or to reach world peace in this 21st century.

This sorrow sometimes penetrates deep beneath my skin.

That expressed, my point was really to share a bit about my experiences here in La Unión which is a vereda/settlement of homes that form part the Peace Community of San José. There are so many things that a few months seemed new to me, and that have now become the usual. The sounds of the animals in the middle of the night, the blasting vallenato music, the soldiers along the path, and the tension that seems to travel in the air and that comes to tap my shoulders on any given day for this reason or that. The once hard to annunciate names of community members, leaders, other NGO's, governent figures, etc, that now slide easily off my tongue. And, ofcourse, the heavy conversations about the atrocities experienced by people here that have moved from feeling heavy on my shoulders to a safer place in my heart. There are also those life moments that come along as the year continues and we mark an X on already lived day. My 25th birthday was celebrated here (in La Unión) just last month (something I could have never imagined happening). There was love and joy all day and I knew that something like this would probably not repeat itself; at least, not in the same way, with the exact same people, and the same smiles and laughter that were shared because I was another year old.

While being here I have witnessed the difficulty that campesinos (farmers; agricultural workers) here face to be able to simultaneously heal from their yesterdays and continue with the process of the community building they started 10 years ago. I have enjoyed birthday celebrations and have seen people enjoy the dazzling colors of a sunset on a humid day. And, I have also seen the fear in people’s eyes when they hear the news of a recent threat, a death, and/or are told that the military is in proximity to their homes. I have seen how difficulties can easily transform into a crisis or become only an insignificant stone along the way. Overall, I have to say that I have personally grown during this short time and strongly believe that this change has taken place both personally and professionally.

What is easiest to speak of is my own growing process. I feel blessed in many ways to be here, living in a community that has opened its homes and hearts to my presence. I have so much respect for all the people here for staying on their land and continuing to live their lives in a way they feel should be rightfully respected. I agree with them. Civilians need not to be caught in the middle of the conflict as they have been forced to do since beginning of the most violent periods in this country. This understanding did not come to me solely from reading a book, or reading the history of this region, it mostly came to me through speaking to the people here and hearing their stories. There is a common experience that binds this community, that is, they all have personally suffered the loss of a loved one and have been forced to feel the fear that comes when one is in danger and when the possibilities of losing another family members is not a far off possibility. I do not presume to understand the depth of their experience, nor to speak for them, but while hearing them, I often remember that there is a permanent damage in their being, as no one can ever replaced those beings that they still long for.

It is difficult to hear the tragedies: people disappeared, murdered, framed, massacres, threats, intimidation, etc. Although such experiences are their reality and are some of the main reasons why FOR provides physical accompaniment to the community, there is also another reality that takes place here. I am amazed at the determination the community has to make the best out of their experiences and be able to live their lives as dignified campesinos. Their painful stories are not an everyday conversation. There is also gossip and jokes, small talk, laughter, music and dancing. They sit together in their neighbor’s homes and watch telenovelas and news and soccer. The kids love to go to the river and swim for hours, play with our puzzles, kick the hell out of our soccer ball; and, well, most of the time people are passing by with smiles on their face on their way to collect their harvest or carrying wood for the day care, enjoying a buñuelo (deep-fried dough ball with cheese) that they bought for 100 pesos (about 5 cents), or on their way to buy eggs from someone. What is unique here is that although their core values as a community and conviction to live in peace are solid, what is experienced as an ordinary life remains fragile because there are external forces that can easily interrupt their mundane days. This will be true for as long as the armed conflict and intimidation they face from legal and illegal forces continues.

I am often time at a loss for words here because of something someone said or because of the unexpected visits we get from someone brining us food or plantains or pastries. Their generosity is one of the most noticeable qualities. I find myself so perplexed at how the different lifestyles that children here share than those back home. I know that the little womyn here might not necessarily know how to use the newest ipod cell phone , but they can climb the 20ft high mango tree, or work with a machete to clean out the weeds on the path. I wonder what beholds their future. How the little kiddies who now play with our dominoes and puzzles will grow up and inevitably be forced to understand who she/he is in the context of this armed conflict. While it is difficult to have a full understanding of the complexity that surrounds this region, it is really simple to realize that over all circumstances, the basic human right to live violence-free, should always be respected.

How is it that humans have created a world where wars are no longer an option but a forced lifestyle? In these modern-day wars, I wonder whose security is being defended and from who? Is it the National, regional, or the personal/economical one?

I do not know that this has an answer, but I am sure that it is worth thinking about. Anyways, all in all, what I wanted to say in so many words is that I am grateful to be here where I have witnessed the strength and courage that human beings are capable of investing for a better world. I am also, inevitably saddened that there are some many reasons why the presence of international human rights observers continues to be on high demand here and in other places in the world.

Death and dying as we are living

Morir es Vivir.

I heard a member of the Peace community say this. She further added: "I am not afraid of death, I have always known it will one day come, for me and for everybody." -June 23rd

What does death mean across the board? Dying and death, the dead and dying. The context, circumstances and conditions of this process vary; however, death is always death no matter how you put it. I do not want to dwell in a religious epilogue of the meaning of death; instead, I just had an urge to write about the recent experiences I’ve had with other’s dying. In particular as I am here in Colombia interacting with a community that has had too many experiences with death, often in the most brutal way that ends up adding more cases to the “unresolved files” that fuel the high level of impunity in the country.

Obviously there is a big difference between dying of a natural cause (i.e. old age), because of health reasons, and being killed/murdered. I understand these differences, nonetheless, I have a hard time separating the meaning of death and applying it to all scenarios. When I see the mourning process, the people that are left to tell the tale of the difunto (deceased) or when death is anticipated and people have a chance to talk about it and/or somehow prepare for it it seems like the living are left with the responsibility of explaining the meaning of so and so’s death. This April, only a month after being here in with Peace Community, I got news that my good friend Jessa had passed on to next world; she died after fighting cancer for almost a year. It was a death I was prepared for, mostly through Jessa’s own guidance as we openly spoke of her death and about how she was living with love all around during the entire process. Just a few weeks ago, I heard that my oldest aunt on my father’s side is currently battling cancer and that her treatment has been stopped as she is now facing the last stages of the illness. She is facing her death as it faces her through a chronic illness that has paved the way to deliver her to the end of her life.

But, here, I hear about another kind of death. It is bloody red and it really doesn’t have a fixed diagnosis. It blends with violence and it is paradoxically both blunt and invisible. There always seems to be more questions than answers and a murder can become the most important event to some individuals, while being rendered as insignificant by others.

On Monday, July 9^th during evening hours, a policeman identified as Hernán Lopéz Cardona was killed in San José by what is believed to have been a direct attack from members of the FARC. The attack took place on the police post that was established there in 2005, resulting with the Peace Community displacing, as it was clear that it was a risk to their safety since it would make the civilians the convenient buffer zone during combat.

Four days later, on Friday the 13th, we heard about the death of a civilian. He is identified as Dairo Torres and the Peace Community states that Dairo’s murder is the most recent example of how attacks against civilian Campesino/as continue to take place. The Peace Community has identified Dairo as one of their members and leaders. He was described as a member who attended their asembleas (large periodic meetings requiring participation of all members of the Peace Community), and who had been working in their agricultural project that functions through the organizing of work-groups.

The Peace Community explains that Dairo Torres was killed around noon by two men dressed as civilians. These individuals are said to have stopped the “chivero” (jeep used as public transportation) Dairo was boarded on when it was on its way to San José. These chiveros are available on an estimated hourly basis and provide relatively cheap transportation on the only road available for folks to get to/from San José and Apartadó. Further details of the event include that the chivero was stopped shortly after passing the police check-point (it is believed to be about a two-minute drive from this check-point). There were apparently no policemen on duty at that particular time. It is believed that the two armed individuals asked Dairo to get off the chivero and after Dairo refused to do so, he was shot at once, and was then forcibly removed from the vehicle. These unidentified men are said to have ordered the chivero driver continue on his way. Dairo’s body was found on the side of the road right where the chivero was stopped.

Moreover, they say that the same end results applies to the vast majority of cases like these: the perpetrator is never caught and the justice system fails to win another battle against impunity. Member of the Peace Community stated that the two men who killed Dairo are paramilitaries and that witnesses heard them identify themselves as being members of the Aguilas Negras (Black Eagles; paramilitary group that emerged after Uribe’s demobilization process for the paramilitaries was in effect, legally known as Ley de Justicia y Paz).

Why was Dairo Torres killed ? Why was his murder executed in plain daylight and in a way that provided witnesses? Who can prove that paramilitaries might be behind his death?

The Peace Community has now added two more deaths to the toll: “We have now lost 180 members of the Peace Community” were the words uttered by one of the Community leaders.

The local media has released articles stating that Dairo Torres was not a member of the Peace Community. Does his affiliation with the Peace Community determine how extra-judicial his killing was? Or does his independence from it make the individuals responsible for it a bit less heavy on the murder scale?

What is clear is that this last week resulted with two deaths and that those responsible have contributed to the already overloaded files of cases that sooner than later become bluntly invisible under the new cases that get stacked above them.

The fact is that the Peace Community continues to find motives to stay united as an alternative to the historical and present day violence, hoping that both legal and illegal groups/individuals who bear arms can fully respect the lives of civilians. This is the reality that continues to feed deaths to the long-lasting conflicto armado (aka guerra) in Colombia.

And I sit here, pondering about all the other kinds of deaths that go unnoticed, unheard of, either because they happen clandestinely, silently, or because there are no ears to listen...

For more information on recent events in the Community, including Dairo’s Death please read the comunicado released by FOR posted on my blog or visit the Peace Community´s Webpage

FOR statement: Paramilitaries Kill Member of Peace Community

Paramilitaries Kill Leader of San José de Apartadó Peace Community

Paramilitary gunmen killed Dairo Torres, a leader of the San José de Apartadó Peace Community, on Friday, July 13, shortly after 12 noon, according to the community. Torres was a passenger on one of the jeeps that serve as the only public transport between the city of Apartadó and San José, when it was intercepted by two paramilitaries – the same men who detained the jeep the previous day and made threats against the Peace Community. The community said that gunmen told Torres to get off the jeep, which he did; they told the driver to continue, and then they killed Torres on the spot.

The killing occurred only two minutes from a police checkpoint, where earlier in the day witnesses saw the gunmen sitting and conversing with police.

Torres was a leader of the humanitarian zone of Alto Bonito, a hamlet of San José de Apartadó. He is the fourth San José humanitarian zone leader to be killed in the last 20 months. Humanitarian zones are sites established by the Peace Community where civilians can go in case of combat between the armed groups that are active in the area, and be respected under the norms of international humanitarian law.

The killing occurred just four days after an attack by FARC guerrillas on the police post in the town center of San José de Apartadó, which killed a policeman, Hernán López Cardona, and wounded another policeman. In April 2005, the Peace Community displaced to land a mile from the town center when the police post was installed, precisely because it would make the civilian population a military target for the FARC.

Extensive Colombian media reports of the FARC attack conflated the Peace Community – which has no presence near the police post – with the San José town center where the police are located. La Patria, in a July 12 tribute to the fallen policeman, wrote “San José de Apartadó, [is] a population denominated as a Peace Community. Nevertheless, the guerrillas patrol there and this was demonstrated by the attack.” El Tiempo also stated that the attack took place “in the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó.” None of the media reports mentioned that the Peace Community had displaced away from the town center when the police post was established, so as not to live with any armed group.

The day after the attack, according to the community, police told several people in San José that the attack had originated from the Peace Community’s settlement and that it would pay for it. On July 12, according to a community statement, paramilitary gunmen on the Apartadó-San José road identified themselves to public transport passengers as ‘Aguilas Negras’ (Black Eagles), and said “that SOB peace community would begin to pay very dearly.” ‘Aguilas Negras’ is the name used by a paramilitary group newly active in several parts of Colombia.

The Peace Community first announced the establishment of humanitarian zones in Alto Bonito and seven other hamlets in February 2005. Ten days later, two families, including Community leader Luis Eduardo Guerra, were massacred by men whom witnesses said were army soldiers. Army soldiers killed Arlen Salas, coordinator of the Arenas Altas humanitarian zone, in November 2005, in what it said was an accident; soldiers killed his successor, Edilberto Vásquez in January 2006, claiming he was a guerrilla killed in combat. Seven soldiers subsequently have been charged with his murder. Francisco Puertas, another humanitarian zone leader, was killed by a paramilitary gunman on May 13 of this year.

The shameless challenge to Washington’s purported values of human rights could not be more direct. The hundreds of violations, including more than 180 killings, against the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, have been the subject of mandatory protective rulings by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and six collective letters from dozens of Members of Congress to Colombian officials and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. More than $70 million of U.S. military aid was suspended in 2005, in large part as a result of outrage over the massacre in San José in February 2005. Members of Congress have visited the Peace Community. FOR and many other NGOs have focused the attention of thousands of people to urge the Colombian government to put an end to the violence and impunity against this community.

If this is what happens to a community that Colombian and US officials say they are acting to protect, what is the fate of the many communities in Colombian conflict zones that are not the subject of so much human rights concern? After all this, why should the United States continue to support Colombia’s military and police forces when clear collaboration between state and paramilitary forces routinely results in the murder of members of this small and neutral peasant community?

Please take action!

Write an email or fax to the US Department of State, expressing sorrow for the killings of Hernán López Cardona and Dairo Torres, and urging:

• That State Department officials make a public declaration expressing concern about reports of police collaboration in the assassination of Dairo Torres,
• That State Department officials publicly support the establishment and honoring of humanitarian zones in areas of conflict as instruments for upholding the principle in international humanitarian law of protection of civilians from adversaries in armed conflict.

The Fellowship of Reconciliation believes that the United States should suspend assistance to the Colombian National Police until the reported links of its members to paramilitary groups or other illegal armed groups are fully investigated and prosecuted.

Contact:
Jonathan D. Farrar
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Email: FarrarJD2@state.gov Fax: 202-647-5283

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Statements by Peace Community:
PARAMILITARES ASESINAN A DAIRO

Con dolor, rabia e impotencia hacemos esta constancia del asesinato de nuestro compañero, amigo y líder DAIRO TORRES.

Ayer 13 de julio a las 12:15 p.m., a cinco minutos de la salida de Apartadó en la carretera hacia San José, fue interceptado el vehículo de servicio público por dos paramilitares, los mismos que habían salido el jueves 12 de julio haciendo amenazas contra la comunidad. Pararon el vehículo los paramilitares y con armas cortas en las manos le dijeron a DAIRO que se bajará, DAIRO se bajó, luego los paramilitares le dijeron al chofer del carro que siguiera, y allí mismo asesinaron a DAIRO.

El asesinato ocurrió a menos de dos minutos del retén de la policía, pero el descaro no para allí, hacia las 9:10 a.m. se le habían visto a los dos paramilitares conversando y sentados con la policía en el retén que tienen en el Mangolo a la salida de Apartadó hacia San José. La complicidad es total, aquí sobran las palabras, los hechos son mas dicientes.

DAIRO era coordinador de la zona humanitaria de Alto Bonito (ubicada a cuatro horas de San Josesito), un líder que venía trabajando con la comunidad desde el 2004, un hombre íntegro, serio, responsable, un líder total que trabajaba incansablemente por las veredas. Participaba activamente en las asambleas de la comunidad, en sus reuniones, un artífice en el proceso de la comunidad.

Sabemos ya del cinismo y descaro del estado que dirán mentiras como lo hicieron con el asesinato de Francisco Puertas el 14 de mayo: fue delincuencia común, aquí no existen paramilitares, era un guerrillero, no era líder, no trabajaba con la comunidad, lo expulsaron de la comunidad, lo mataron en otro lado, etc, etc.

Es un crimen de los paramilitares en total complicidad con la policía, ya veníamos dejando constancia de estos hechos sin que ninguna institución del Estado actuara en absoluto, las amenazas de la policía no se dejaron esperar y sus mensajeros los paramilitares cumplieron órdenes bastante rápido.

Es un golpe brutal para la comunidad, para la zona, ya que DAIRO era un hombre claro en la resistencia civil y en su liderazgo en las veredas. Pedimos con urgencia la solidaridad nacional e internacional para exigirle al estado que pare el exterminio contra la comunidad, contra la población civil de la zona.

Esta es una acción atroz y por ello mismo sabemos que el dolor nos debe llevar a seguir resistiendo civilmente como lo hemos hecho, como no lo enseñó DAIRO, que sigue y seguirá entre nosotros, dándonos luces y ayudándonos a seguir de pie, mas firmes que nunca en los principios que defendió, como es el derecho a ser respetada la población civil en medio del conflicto armado. A su familia, su compañera, sus tres hijos pequeños, nuestro más sentido pésame, estamos con ustedes para seguir en esta causa justa por la vida, la paz y la dignidad.

COMUNIDAD DE PAZ DE SAN JOSE DE APARTADO
Julio 14 de 2007

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AMENAZAS DE LOS PARAMILITARES

Para la Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó es un deber moral dejar constancia de todas las agresiones que vive constantemente nuestro proceso, esto permitirá que algún día la humanidad haga justicia contra los sembradores de muerte que han realizado cantidad de crímenes de lesa humanidad.

- El día 12 de julio a las 5:35 p.m. en el sitio llamado Tierra Amarilla, a diez minutos de Apartadó en la carretera hacia San José, dos paramilitares detuvieron el carro de servicio público, los dos hombres de civil estaban con armas cortas, dijeron que eran águilas negras y que iban a estar controlando la zona y que esa h.p. Comunidad de Paz la iba a comenzar a pagar bien caro, requisaron el carro miraron a los pasajeros y le dijeron al chofer que siguiera.

La misma amenaza que realiza la policía el 10 de julio la hacen ahora los paramilitares, no es raro siempre han trabajado juntos, los paramilitares como siempre se mueven tranquilamente en una carretera controlada en su totalidad por policía y ejército. Así es el accionar de muerte que hemos tenido que vivir durante diez años.

Sabemos que el gobierno, la fuerza pública dice que todo es mentira, las muertes de los paramilitares no existen, los ataques de la guerrilla en Urabá son hechos aislados. Para nosotros no es raro que digan y nieguen esto, nosotros que vivimos en carne propia el conflicto armado y el actuar conjunto de paramilitares y fuerza pública sabemos que cumplirán sus amenazas contra nuestro proceso.

Pese a las amenazas de la policía y los paramilitares no retrocederemos, indudablemente nos generan miedo, terror, pero también dignidad y valor para no cederles a los asesinos ni un centímetro de espacios de vida, sus amenazas no nos harán retroceder en nuestros principios, y aquí estaremos diariamente en nuestra tierra construyendo alternativas de vida. Agradecemos la solidaridad nacional e internacional que caminan con nosotros en esta búsqueda por construir un mundo alternativo.

COMUNIDAD DE PAZ DE SAN JOSE DE APARTADO
Julio 13 de 2007

SE NOS QUIERE ATACAR DE NUEVO OCULTANDO LA REALIDAD
El día 9 de julio hacia las nueve de la noche se presentaron combates en el corregimiento de San José de Apartadó entre la guerrilla y la fuerza pública, según noticias locales un policía resultó muerto y uno herido.

La policía dijo a varias personas de San José el 10 de julio entre la 1 y 2 p.m. que dicho ataque había salido de la Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó desde San Josesito y que esa comunidad h.p. la iba a pagar bien caro

El gobierno el mismo 10 de junio manifestó a medios de comunicación que se trataba de hechos aislados y que San José es el corregimiento mas prospero y eso de la Comunidad de Paz ya no existe, que existía un grupito en una finca pero que esa comunidad estaba acabada.

Todas estas expresiones demuestran la falta de transparencia y la verdad con que actúa este gobierno y la fuerza pública, se nos quiere como siempre culpar por parte de la fuerza pública de acciones de guerra que solo son responsabilidad de los dos actores armados la Fuerza Pública-paramilitares y la guerrilla.

Nos preocupa las amenazas y acciones que puedan realizarse contra la comunidad debido a los señalamientos que está realizando la policía. Pedimos la solidaridad nacional e internacional ante estos hechos.

Se evidencia la total complicidad del gobierno a los hechos de muerte que vienen sucediendo en la región ya que el paramilitarismo sigue actuando y asesinando en la región y no se hace nada, total impunidad, se aumenta la confrontación armada entre el Estado y la guerrilla y esta oculta llamándolo hechos aislados y lo peor acusando de ellos a la comunidad como lo dice la fuerza pública.

Creemos que es necesario dejar constancia de los hechos que están sucediendo para que la verdad desde las víctimas quede plasmada en la historia y no dejar solo la versión de los victimarios que como se evidencia oculta y falsea los hechos, demostrando de esta forma su actuar sucio y perverso.

Exigimos el respeto a la población civil en medio de esta confrontación armada que sufre la zona de Urabá, sabemos que la realidad nos muestra la continua necesidad de nuestra experiencia como comunidad neutral a los actores armados y generadora de vida en medio de la guerra.

COMUNIDAD DE PAZ DE SAN JOSE DE APARTADO
Julio 11 de 2007
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Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó
http://www.cdpsanjose.org

CACAO

The green mountains that surround this region are covered with fertile soil. The campesin@s from the Peace Community enjoy a variety of fruits ranging from coconuts, papaya, zapote, güamas, bananas, avocado, mango, to güanabanas and cacao. The campesinos are dedicated to their land as they grow up learning how to nurture and care for it as their natural environment. A main fruit harvested by the members of La Unión is cacao. Folks here have large cacaoteras (fields where cacao trees grow) spread all along the green mountains. Because of the rich lands, the campesinos are able to harvest large amounts of cacao that they later sell as a means to gain some income. Twice a year they harvest cacao but only one of those times is known as the prime season, which is from October-January. Through the cacao harvest the community is able to gain agricultural income. Community members strive to have sustainable lifestyles and they are currently in the process of producing organic cacao. They hope to be able to market their product internationally and keep working independent from the some of the major competing companies/industries whose business supports the continuity of the armed conflict.

Cacao

Penetrated under a surface

Connected to veins

That travel underground

To somehow feed

The child.

Sustainably.

Surrendering to gravity

Branches twisted

To mark the travels

Of nature’s time.

Blended colors of brown- green leaves

Drinking from wet earth

To quench the thirst of

The child.

Sunlight comes to greet

And nourish the once were seeds

Elements join to feed

Acting like the mother earth she is

Birth once again unfolds

The tree
The wood

Freedom expressed

Both vertically and horizontally

Branches with a little womb of their own

Cacao is born

And its womb must be torn

For it to transform into

Food for the Child

Dividing the shell to take what it holds

A white cloud of texture unfolds

Cacao, sweetness of an only kind

Flavors that perplex the mind

Chemistry and magic known

Physical matter

Geographical forms

Working hands collecting fruit…

Costales full of wet seeds

Placed across rooftops

To once again catch the sunlight
As they now get father away from the

Caterpillar stage

Where the child lives
Lay the seeds of the fruit of the trees

That loyally give their womb

To the hands of all those

Who the Child will feed.

Human touch bridges the connection

Since the beginning of this transformation

Watching and patiently waiting

Protecting it when it is raining

And the process continues
And the sun keeps on rising

And the moon keeps on showing

Her many faces

A dance of nature and hands

Caressing the shell

Whispering to it the secrets of the next world

Slowly shelling it from its home.

It no longer needs to hold the throne

Virgin fingers ache

A blister of repetition is born.

One by one

hands touch seed…
Thumb against index and repeat

Fire joins the transformation

Seeds roast over bright red wood

Scents emerge without hesitation

Flame softens the seed

Doña Lola understands the creation

Her experience hands dance against space

Showing lines of wisdom across her veins

The cacao responds to her touch

Her working hands

The child is waiting

It knows well

That the gift of the tree is

Transforming

The cacao divides again

Soft thick paste

Where machine meets man

And the strength of a woman’s hand

Push and swing

Pull and Push.

Round and down

Heat all around

Dripping in sweat on a hot day in a wooden house

Scented by a rainy yesterday

The wood incense burns

Outside ducks wobble trough muddy terrain

Birds sing about rivers at bay

Only half of kilo has been made

And the Child is fed.

Pure.
Dark.

Chocolate.

The color of a still night without a moon.