Jackie Somebody from South Africa

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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2011-01-28 06:23 PM

JACKIE SOMEBODY FROM SOUTH AFRICA
23 February 2009

At a baby clinic
in Gondola
in Moçambique
is an angel
who is not an angel
but a mere human
who shames me
when I despair
of the human race
and all of us
who say, “What can one person do against/for the whole world?”

Without wondering where the next donation is coming from
this young, pretty, married missionary
who could have an infinitely different life,
devotes herself
to every single Moçambiquan baby
or Zimbabwean baby from across the nearby border
who needs her
despite
despair,
disease,
superstition,
poverty,
ignorance,
malnourished babies,
and sparse supplies far away.

Some come from far away
leaving their homes on foot
at midnight
to reach the clinic
at daybreak
knowing
she
is there
and will help
in whatever way she can
with knowledge,
expertise,
kindness,
grace
and authenticity,
no games,
just the real deal.

She does what she does
as she says,
not because of
a theory
or a notion
or a religion
but
because of
the reality of the love of God.
She doesn’t preach compassion;
she doesn’t write poems about it;
she
IS
it
and she
acts upon it.

Her story is told
but what about
those whose are
not?
There are many, many thousands
like her
that we only hear about
by chance.

How dare I
bemoan
the state of humanity
until I have walked
a fraction
of a mile
in her
or their
moccasins?

Owl

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2011-01-28 07:07 PM

Then, my dear friend, by Grace?
She will be known because of you,
if she shall not write about herself.

She will be with her God...
and you, with yours, who are
probably and most likely the same...
so write of her, as you learn more...
that others may learn.

Sometimes, that is the best way
to teach.

Write on, Diana.

faithmairee
Senior Member

since 2011-01-05

Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA

2 posted 2011-01-28 07:59 PM

another beauty...i enjoyed this one so much...

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

3 posted 2011-01-28 08:07 PM

There are those who talk / There are those that do

~ Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die. ~

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

4 posted 2011-01-28 11:32 PM

My new puppy has chewed through my power cable.  I hope I can get one today, but may not be able to get one until Wednesday, if at all as my laptop was bought in 2007.

I don't have much battery power left.

Just explaining why there may be no response from me, if there are more responses to this poem.

Thanks, Karilea.  Yes, her God and mine are the same.  Unfortunately, I can’t reach enough people for her to be known by, not that she would feel she needs to be known, except by the people that she can help.

Thanks, Faith.  I am glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks, Jerry.  You are right.

Owl

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

5 posted 2011-01-29 02:05 AM

Very interesting.
Keep this writing going and I think it will be a definite positive.
Everything has to start somewhere.

Nicely presented and emotionally expressive.

Eric

the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of reality though not beheld

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

6 posted 2011-01-29 05:39 AM

It makes one wonder why there is so much suffering in one area of the world and so little in another~~ and why it has been allowed to be so.

M

steavenr
Member Elite

since 2003-11-17

Posts 4058

7 posted 2011-01-30 04:42 PM

thank you for sharing your uplifting tribute to your angel of mercy....for letting us all know they do exist...if not by name, then surely by deed

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

8 posted 2011-01-30 05:58 PM

There are many unsung heroes like Jackie. Those are the people we should hear about in newscasts or read of in the newspapers, instead of Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton....but we don't and that's a shame. Thank you for your fine tribute, Owl.

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

9 posted 2011-02-02 01:49 PM

Thank you, Karilea.  I don’t think I will hear more about her.  I heard about her on a TV documentary.

Thank you, Faith, for your kind words.  I am glad you did.

Thank you, Jerry.  Yes, you are so right.

Thank you, Eric.  Yes, she is like a Mother Theresa.  I am glad you liked it.

Thank you, Maureen.  I think there is much suffering in all parts of the world – it is just of different kinds in different places.

Thank you, Steaven.  It is my pleasure.  The TV documentary was so inspiring.

Thank you, Balladeer, for your kind words.  Yes, wouldn’t it be great if we heard about these sorts of things in newscasts and in newspapers.

Owl

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

10 posted 2011-02-02 06:26 PM

wonderful...James

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

11 posted 2011-02-03 10:45 AM

Thank you, James.

Owl

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