In the Kitchen
There are pots and pans
Stove tops or charcoal eyes
Knives and spoons
And here in Uganda
Lillian
She smiles and laughs
She dances with arms high
As water heats
“Will you miss me?”
“Ah, my Sarah loves me so much.”
“God loves me so much.”
“You bring me to America.”
“I come cook for you and your husband.”
Her right-hand nails are jagged
Freshly painted she calls them beautiful
Her flip flops have a triangle cut
Made by someone’s knife
Kneading flour, salt, baking soda,
Green pepper, red onion and carrot,
Oil and water she makes dough
“Muzungos love my chapati.”
“Can I help?”
“No, you rest.
Rest so you can preach,
Pray for me.
You pray for me, yeah?”
“Yes!”
Laughing again
As we sing and dance.
“Teach me songs and I will think of you.”
“Oh, you love me so much.”
Here between ministry
The place I truly love to be
Between two buildings
On a bench
Before two charcoal eyes
Underneath the ever changing skies
Rolling and frying chapati
With Lillian
My Mama Uganda
