Parting Words for Madagascar

Here's a poem a wrote about six months back for a fellow volunteer who was getting ready to finish her service and leave Madagascar at that time. Since I'm getting ready to head out of here myself, I thought I should post it here to share with everyone. Enjoy!

Parting Words for Madagascar

Goodbye , wide magnificent land,
with steep green mountains and vibrant rice fields,
precious forest and winding rivers,
sparkling oceans and waving palm trees,
endangered, yet flowing with life and generosity.

Goodbye, radical skies,
with pounding rains and thundering winds,
soothing sunsets and haunting, red sunrises,
brilliant rainbows and brighter stars
and moons than we will ever hope to see again
in this lonely, open countryside.

Goodbye, lovely echoes
of rhythmic pounding, laughing, crying,
howling, mooing and crowing,
of wise kabaris and African proverbs,
women chatting around the cookfire,
of cheers from the village football pitch,
and luscious harmonies emanating
from churches, schools and funeral marches,
always uplifting no matter the circumstance.

Goodbye, sensuous smells
of burnt and bitter roasting coffee,
sugary vanilla and sticky jackfruit,
of thick, smokey firewood and steamy rice,
of floral, fruity, tropical blossoms
and the pineapples, leechies and mangoes
of blessed November’s bounty.

Goodbye, family, friends and living things
of all species, colors and walks of life,
playful lemurs, vibrant geckos and brilliant chameleons,
grand herds of zebu roaming the great expanse,
inspiring leaders and passionate co-workers,
incredible women and resilient children
facing unbelievable odds.
Loving, caring, welcoming with open arms,
You embrace us, nourish us and give us life.

Farewell, but not forgotten.
Always in our hearts and minds,
in all forms will live and breathe
the memories of each other.