may my mind stroll about hungry

5.

may my heart always be open to little

birds who are the secrets of living

whatever they sing is better than to know

and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry

and fearless and thirsty and supple

and even if it's sunday may i be wrong

for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully

and love yourself so more than truly

there's never been quite such a fool who could fail

pulling all the sky over him with one smile

(E.E. Cummings)

Many dear friends know well my obsession for E.E. Cummings as I often force them to listen to me read them whatever poem has stuck out to me of late. (Always promising its "just one"...but usually betraying their kindness). I have gotten into the habit of carrying a book of his poetry around and opening up to random poems when i'm sitting around with a free moment - honestly, screw the million methods to analyze poetry that were drilled into me in college - what seems more effective?

Letting poetry accompany you in your everyday - allowing it little spaces and places to speak into the mundane and illuminate. I can read a poem ten times - and it can seem gibberish to me (especially if its Cummings). But then the eleventh time - due to where my heart, mind or physical self are - something clicks and the poem starts opening up for me.

"here's to opening and upward, to leaf and to sap

and to your (in my arms flowering so new)

self whose eyes smell of the sound of rain"

I truly love the first poem and how effortlessly Cummings captures this stage of life i feel that I'm in. 22 years old, just out of college, thrust into a position in international development and working in an environment so different than that of the States. This experience is (and has been) ideal for growth. Daily I am learning things about myself, about international NGO's, microfinance and dealing with people - while often the pace isnt as enjoyable as "strolling" my mind is definitely hungry and thirsty, and I hope fearless.

Sometimes I feel restless and too hungry, too thirsty (my friends have made fun of me on more than one occasion for overusing the phrase "it would be interesting to do a study on..." fill in the blank - the motivation for shoe shine boys and where ones money actually goes to - the correlation of shifts at Barra Payan that Jose (attractive dominican friend) works and the busyness of the restaurant.) I am constantly seeing where my skill set ends and where I need to improve, learn more etc. Where I need an in-house manager or where I need to go back to school.

Yet, what I do relish is the luxury of being able to interact with associates and women who in their often shy, quiet voice, explain how their lives have been made different through a loan with HOPE. In many a soft conversation, secrets of life have been revealed in simplicity and practicality.

May our hearts always be open.