There is no other figure of a woman that merits our attention especially on this
International Woman's Month more than our mothers. There are no words enough to describe the strength and spirit of these women.
Here is a poem by Pablo Neruda that tries to capture in words our passage through life with the woman that nurtured us.
To my mom,
I love you and
I thank you.
TO WASH A CHILDby Pablo NerudaOnly the most ancient love on earth
will wash and comb the statue of the children,
straighten the feet and knees.
The water rises, the soap slithers,
and the pure body comes up to breathe
the air of flowers and motherhood.
Oh, the sharp watchfulness,
the sweet deception,
the lukewarm struggle!
Now the hair is a tangled
pelt criscrossed by charcoal,
by sawdust and oil,
soot, wiring, crabs,
until love, in its patience,
sets up buckets and sponges,
combs and towels,
and, out of scrubbing and combing, amber,
primal scrupulousness, jasmines,
has emerged the child, newer still,
running from the mother's arms
to clamber again on its cyclone,
go looking for mud, oil, urine and ink,
hurt itself, roll about on the stones.
Thus, newly washed, the child springs into life,
for later, it will have time for nothing more
than keeping clean, but with the life lacking.
Earth Day is still a month from now (Apr 22) but tomorrow, a special hour is dedicated for the only home that we have. It is called the Earth Hour. From 8pm to 9pm (SA time), few governments in the world and a number of environmentally-conscious individuals have committed to turning off the lights on public monuments, offices and homes. This is a mass action designed to highlight the campaign against global warning and climate change.
