They curse the dry unyielding ground
stubble from impotent crops remain
toppled huts call out in anger
“we will never be whole again
they have maligned our children
destroyed our spirit”
only bitter weeds grow strong
***
lovingly they pour water on hardened ground
fingers soiled with ancestral dirt
music filters through new huts
golden maize dances to life’s song
children’s laughter reaches blue expanse
“we are known as the place of the light”
Pasqual’s face radiates hope
***
The LRA displaced the Acholi tribes in Northern Uganda. Not one family was untouched. “I was abducted as a child.” “My wife was raped at 9.” “We ran over the bodies of dead family members.” “Our village was destroyed.”
For the Acholi there are two choices – bitterness or forgiveness.
In no way is the forgiveness easy but only through it can life begin fresh and new.
Only in love can a new song be written in the heart of these strong people.
