lost in translation even pain even love.

lost in translation
uganda, then rwanda
safari and elephants and even more.
thoughts of broken people, broken world.
authentic embrace of a word unspoken: genocide.
war. pain. violence. Man against man. heart against heart.
how does he hurt her?
how do they justify?
Oh yes.
because couldn't all human beings do such things.
couldn't she seek revolution for one cause
as he seeks a different one.
fighting person on person for change. for breath. seeking.
only i cry.
last night a vision through film of heartache a decade past.
of rwanda torn to pieces by souls thirsty for freedom.
yet i understand the motive.
retreating to the patio i wept.
glancing aimlessly over the city. over kigali. the capital.
thinking of bullet holes still dwelling plentifully in walls.
the lights twinkling as fireflies, mirroring the dark sky.
and silence. a city at rest.
but a tear falls. once a stream now a roaring river.
so a darkness in a city of hope.
a city seeking reconciliation. a country loving still.
a mask maybe of covered aches, bruises, deaths.
but coping comes with angst. one must find another to confide in.
and how does an entire country do this?

So walking through the city today.
hurting for those eyes i pass. wondering of their pain.
and still at peace.
a nice city. sipping coffee at bourbon.
people with spirits golden and smiles true.

so now what?
only one word:
love.
for this place.
for these people.

and i continue translating, once lost, maybe still.
in even pain, even love.