Lydia Hartsell

A little poem for you all to recall my Thanksgiving in Tanzania:

Twas the day of Thanksgiving, when all through the country
Many creatures were stirring, yes even the monkeys.
The population went on living without any care,
Cause Thanksgiving is not a holiday there.

The Americans in Tz went planning their food
While Abe and Julia went to Kariakoo.
And after buying two live scrawny chickens
They returned to their homestays to butcher them.

When out in the city, Lydia met Jacquelyn,
She sprang free from class to meet her ferry then.
Away to the dala they flew like a flash,
Onboard, they tore through the streets without a crash.

The sun on their backs they walked to the market,
To buy lots of food for the army of students.
When, what to their wondering eyes should take place,
Their bags filled up fast with fresh produce in haste.

With a bit of muscle, they carried it home,
to spend the next three hrs in a kitchen like gnomes.
More rapid than a top chef they cooked a feast,
Of all sorts of bright vegetables, meats and cheese!

“Now Mashed Potatoes! Eggplant! Gaucamole!
Carrots! Green Beans! Devilled Eggs! Mostacholi!
Homemade Stuffing crammed into tiny chickens!
Now cook away! Cook away! Cook away then!”

As eggs were boiled and peeled and vegetables fried,
They were met with an obstacle, time slipping by.
So quickly they peeled the potatoes to boil,
Thankful the stove was gas, not slow electric coil.

And then, in a twinkling, with sweat dripping down
The girls finished their cooking and looked around.
Dirty pans piled high with food residues,
The food transferred to dishes of various hues.

Packed neatly into bags, so as not to spill,
The food was now ready to bring up the hill.
Dishes were quickly washed, scrubbed spotlessly clean,
And the girls finally relaxed in their sweating gleam.

Now Anand and Stephen arrived in Bajajis,
Their cheeks were like roses, hot from the sun’s fury.
They carried the bags of food to the taxi,
And we spoke to the drivers in rapid Swahili.

We bartered a good price of our own choosing,
And sped away to enjoy Thanksgiving.
We drove up the hill to the college’s loop,
And arrived at the director’s house of Abe’s group.

We were greeted with welcoming smiles and hugs,
And said thanks for the food despite the coming bugs.
We ate and we drank till all were beyond full,
And played ‘mafia’ to awaken the post-food lull.

So as I look back, reflecting on the day,
I’m reminded again of the thanks I should say.
Thanks to you Rotary, family and friends,
I wish you were here to celebrate till the end!

Though I do miss you all, and will not see you soon
I’m thankful for skype, texting, and emails too.
Lastly, I thank God above all else, and say
“Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good-day!”