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.