November 26, 2004: Headlines: COS - Rwanda: Writing - Rwanda: Poetry: Spin Space: The Poems of Rwanda RPCV Derick Burleson
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November 26, 2004: Headlines: COS - Rwanda: Writing - Rwanda: Poetry: Spin Space: The Poems of Rwanda RPCV Derick Burleson
The Poems of Rwanda RPCV Derick Burleson
The Poems of Rwanda RPCV Derick Burleson
GOOD CUSTOMS
by Derick Burleson
If you have a sweet potato, give half to your brother.
Before serving guests a gourd of urwagwa,
sip through the straw yourself to show it's not poisoned.
When you meet your neighbor in the market
shake hands and exclaim, "You're still alive!"
Wish him large herds when you part.
When you plan to marry, present your future father
with a hoe and a cow. Before bedding your husband,
leave a pitcher of water for Lyangombe, goddess
of fecundity since there's no greater sadness
than dying with no grandchildren to mourn you.
It's futile to fight the will of Imana.
You're rubbed twice with butter: Once when you're born.
Once when you die. Bury your first child's placenta
under the bed. Wrap the umbilical cord into an amulet.
When you need to know the future, take a bottle full
of your own spit to the umupfumu and he'll fry it
to read the spirits' will. If a wife whistles,
her husband is doomed. When someone sneezes say,
"Be rich." They'll answer, "together." Harvest
bananas before they ripen or crows will eat them all.
Attend Mass each Sunday. When you get home,
sacrifice butter and beer at the ancestors' altars.
Let only laughter scar your face.
ETHNOLOGIST'S LAMENT
by Derick Burleson
All day I measure noses.
People are brought before me.
My brass calipers never lie.
If the nose is long enough,
I give that person a card.
If not, I shrug and smile.
I keep meticulous records.
Research shows self is a science.
The laws of Nature are exact.
The sun is savage here,
burns my nose quite raw.
I haven't caught the brain fever
yet, though many have. A few
even died. The women here
are lovely. I shouldn't say so.
The noses of Tutsis are identical
to ours. Outrage! you cry.
Color is the only difference.
I can show you my records.
I wonder how you'd measure up.
We know now the length of nose
is a sign of the finer perceptions
noble blood bestows. Our card
shows those capable to receive
those gifts we bring, gifts of God
and science to create, we anticipate,
an oasis of advanced civilization
here beneath this savage sun.
Yet my work is full of sorrow.
I pity those Hutus whose noses
are only almost long enough.
The laws of Nature never lie.
My brass calipers are quite exact.
I work for the good of my King.
I work for the good of our colony,
beautiful among a thousand hills.
I miss my wife back home.
My work is full of sorrow.
So few noses are long enough.
The sun rises and sets at six.
All night I dream of noses.
Noses just too short
to learn the laws of God
and science. I wear a helmet
against the sun.
When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:
 | The Birth of the Peace Corps
UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn. |
 | Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying
Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here. |
 | Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview
PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before.
Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security. |
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Story Source: Spin Space
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Rwanda; Writing - Rwanda; Poetry
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