My Poems and My Nose

How did January fly by and I didn't notice it? Whew!! Thanks to Jaycee, who buzzed me and informed i just GOT A BLOG AWARD from her, I paused to doodle something tap my keyboard for some pieces. I love Jaycee, you must go follow her blog.

I put my 'Acceptance Speech' on my other blog. I was hesitant at first to let out into open my poetry blog (since I parked VenusSpeaks) because I still want to keep a portion of me to myself...but i figured it is silly. People already know me. So, here, welcome to my poetry blog:

A November Miracle

Everyday, on my way to the center, I pass by two of the smelliest places in our small city. (1) the dumpsite, where all the garbage from everyone in the city is deposited laid-out in the open to dry and (2) the Ugahan or the dried fish ‘factories’ where tons of fish are (you guessed it) also laid-out in the open to dry. These two places are not so far apart that it seems like the aroma you get when you drive by is one distinct smell on its own.

The UGAHAN 

You really have to get here to know what I mean.

I already outgrew my impulse to cover my nose when I pass by these places. My nose automatically shuts off. My daily travels have immunized me that it no longer bothers me…well, except on rainy days.

Again, you really have to get here to know what I mean.

And then I’m reminded of that one cold night in an animal shed where bleating and mooing were silenced by a baby’s cry. I am reminded that this baby was welcomed not by the clean smell of sanitation but by an interesting mix of animal dung, hay and whatnot. I am reminded that this was no ordinary baby – He was the son of THE KING. Most of all, I am reminded that He didn’t have to be born like this, but he chose to.

I am having post-Christmas thoughts of the manger and the man who was born there. I am having repentant thoughts of how easily I can rant about things that cause me discomfort. I am having thoughts of how this world has lured me into thinking that comfort is a right not a privilege. I am having thoughts of how I padded myself with things and fleeting endeavours to be at par with the world’s standard of comfort. And my mind thinks back again of that Man who was born in the manger.

This man...

Who took up our pain and bore our suffering, 

Who was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities

This man, Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

This man who went through all these yet he did not open his mouth; was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 

And this same man who said “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

  

I close my mouth, and forget about what goes through my nose. :)