Hannah’s Birthday and a Semi-Marathon

 

Hannah turned 2 on Monday. She loved getting presents, new clothes, a cake, and ESPECIALLY a new doll:

 

On Wednesday I ran my first half Marathon, together with 3 friends that I run with most weeks. Our wives provided a ‘drinks station’ about two-thirds of the way around the course. We started out running up Tumba hill in 25 degree heat (sweaty work!) and finished by doing the last half hour back into town in the dark, blinded by oncoming motorbikes and unable to see (or feel!) our feet. We met up in town for some food afterwards but I pity the other diners…

Ward 5B Bed 17

 

Thirty One. Female.
A month old infant sucks at her breast,
The wound of his removal lining her abdomen.
The blouse not hiding her swollen liver
Pressing through the much washed fabric.

A hepatitidy her malady.
Spread, untreatable,
Mere months to live.
The gun aimed at her silent;
The barrel spanning her life;
The shot now emerging
Spattered though her lung like duckshot.

Two more mouths await her at home-
Her belly bears the scars of their birth.
But no husband to share the burden;
No breadwinner, no bread.

The only treatment
Words and paindullers,
An aspirin for a gaping wound;
A social worker and some forms.
 
Where will you go,
O What will you do?
Bereft infant, O Motherless son,
Who shall shine on you?

What can I say?
What can I promise?
Only a God who watches,
Hears her wails and my cries,
And weeps,
For a Kingdom coming.