An Ode of Gratitude to Barichara
Oh, Barichara! Little balcony of heaven…
The Andes rise majestically,
their verdant slopes a canvas divinely painted,
their peaks, wave upon wave of blue, an ancient ocean.
The sun spills golden warmth upon me,
these cobbled streets invite my feet
to the joy of walking everywhere!
Flowers of purple, pink, gold, orange and red
cascade over white walls with doors of green and blue.
I’m cradled by the kindness of its people,
who greet one another with a kiss on the cheek,
and welcome me, the outsider,
with true care and concern.
I see children play, hear their giggles of delight,
Parents hover close, creating a culture woven
with threads of love and care.
Teens in their green and white uniforms,
flirting in the park;
Exquisite young women with long black hair,
adorned in ruffles and grace.
The old women walking on the arm
of a younger one, perhaps a relative.
Ancient Santander men shuffling along
with their canes, baggy brown trousers, white espadrilles.
Entire families, sometimes with a small dog
or 30 eggs, on a motorcycle!
I honor and thank those who work for clean water,
the sacred streams that need our care.
Together we join…
a confluence of movements, Voices for Water,
a river of hope flowing onward.
Rosa’s enthusiasm ignites our collective spirit;
Ingrid’s skills weave strength into Unidos’ fabric;
Monica and Irina add their unique talents;
Felipe and Alejandra teach children to know the stream;
Juan Carlos and Sergio share their knowledge — leaders among us.
Thanks to Amparo, Alba, Claudia, Daniel, Esperanza,
Francia, Francisco, German, Gloria, Guillermo,
iAnku, Isabel, Janeth, Katrin & Karl,
Makis, Valentina, Yody, all standing up for water.
In the Bioparque, I find peaceful shade among native trees,
where hummingbirds like tiny jewels sip from blossoms;
breath-stopping canyon views and flaming sunsets
etched in my memory; the Great Rays bursting forth from clouds;
shimmering 6-pointed crystals of golden light behind my eyes.
Gratitude to Vicky and Camila,
and Don Jesús, who planted and nurture this sanctuary, each sight a reminder that beauty, cared for, thrives.
I’m grateful to Cecy, Tannia and many more,
for their faithful sweaty hard labor
creating and tending the Syntropic Agroforestry plots,
building soil while producing crops.
Ooh! The maracuya juice tingles my tongue,
pure evidence that I’ve died and gone to heaven.
Siete Tigres pizza warms me with deliciousness,
Garabatos’ pastries are bites of delight.
Busy small markets overflow
with mangoes, papayas, chirimoya, platanos.
Thanks to my beloved teachers — Alma, Soledad, Martha —
you’ve painted my world with colors;
their guidance and patience helped me create
Streams, ocean, trees, mountains, birds, flowers.
Sol’s kindness shines bright like the sun,
crinkly eyes sparkling with delight and friendship.
In Voces sin Fronteras, learning anthems and love songs,
each chord binding us in beauty;
Andrea’s chorus of harmonies woven
with little Veronika’s laughter,
catching the rhythm of Barichara,
a celebration of humanity.
Paúl and Emerita — visionaries crafting dreams from earth —
their biodigester, their water harvesting project for Guane.
Paúl’s strong and loving spirit, humor,
friendship and encouragement guided me
through a challenging permaculture class.
Dear Margarita, who opened her heart and home to me,
introduced me to her friends, ever generous and encouraging,
her kind words lift me up.
In Casa Común, she nurtures local producers’ dreams —
a gathering place where connections flourish like wildflowers.
Rafita’s cheerful essence shines forth;
his skillful hands build bridges from ideas to actions —
from biodigesters to rainwater catchment,
from construction to juicing;
his helpful willingness reflects Barichara’s essence —
a community woven with threads of kindness.
Neighbor Nubia brings her energy to our shared purpose;
she offers me rides, filled with laughter and stories —
together we traverse paths both known and unknown.
In Barichara’s embrace, I feel such a heartbeat.
Standing amidst beauty and community,
forever changed by the pueblo that shimmers with light.