A glimpse at The Borana People

Out in  the Great Rift Valley

the unity of soul

absolute and integrated

each understand their role

animal care and fetching water

ambitions on the whole

of owning a nice big camel herd

the ambition and the role

taking a salt journey

to El Sod Crater Lake

two camels a goat

and the youngest son

let the rugged region bake

the spirits of each moment

the unconscionable desire

to reach what is the first part

of their journey through the fire

Endless time and infinity

the permanence out there

and there it is stretching below

a womb of time we share

the deepest blackest water

wherein lies precious salt

under the ancient mud of ages

where we now must halt

and pay the boys to fetch it

they dive into the black

Some dig  with poles to loose the mud

that the  many years did pack

Hardly clothed  they dive down

the salt a burning taste

their eyes their ears their noses

plugged working with such haste

back breaking a continuance of

hell on earth today

vaseline pushed up their noses

and in their ears they play

some sort of  wild protection

the salt seeps into cuts

a brotherhood of soldiers

facing up to ruts

searing into withered skin

its slavery for sure

in and out and fighting to

pack it in  bags

thats what they do

load it onto donkeys

Truthfully poor tired mutts

aching backs and creaking guts

50 kilo bags away

dripping salt  they just obey

their masters up the steep incline

if this is life

I so value mine

Arbore Market

7 days

from Gubaluce

father says

the trip is long and rugged and we

will meet our weakness

consistently

the immensity the vast terrain

the outwardness with much to gain

the desertification all about

the experience that just picks out

The pain thresholds

the hurt the sprain

each twinge each pinch

and whats to gain

a father and son

and the camels who

Carry the  baggage

and do it too.