A Poem

There are so many unwanted children in Egypt. The orphanages are bursting at the seams and yet adoption is not possible in this part of the world.

Yet God's heart beats and longs to know every one of them...

John Lewis is a boy*

Before the sea was water
God imagined this child;
eyes to sift the subtle haze
of Abissaya air,
ears to catch the nuances
of street sounds,
a beautiful nose, straight yet soft,
to nuzzle a dusty cat
or to encode the scent
of okra, frying,
a voice at times
strident
like a trumpeting taxi,
then velvety
as a donkey's ear,
strong little legs
to dodge traffic,
a heart that beats
with the complex polyrhythm of Cairo,
and yet,
has the capacity
to comprehend
and capture
and is compelled by
Christ's love,
confounding,
complete.

© Mark Jaffrey, 2008.

This post is part of Creative Chaos over at my blogfather's place, Ragamuffin Soul.

*The title is taken from the idea that it would be just so amazing to go down to the orphanage and pick out your child, just as if you were shopping at John Lewis, choosing the perfect gift for someone you love.