CPTnet
May 13, 2002
COLOMBIA: La Vida

by Carol Foltz Spring

[NOTE FROM COLOMBIA TEAM: "La vida" means "the life" in Spanish. After
heavy rains dumped some water on the keyboard, the letter "e" no longer
worked, so this poem does not use the letter "e."]

LA VIDA

Barranca, Barranca, city of oil
Dark skin shining in hot sun
Uniforms camouflaging truth
backing up big oil

In smoky air, sign claims oil industry
is "giving la vida to Colombia"

Day and night
drills pump la vida from soil
Plodding stationary buffalo
pulling in circular motions

Day and night
a flaming factory transforms la vida
into gas and a thousand things
pouring out hot soot

Day and night
multinationals buy la vida
lining Swiss bank accounts
of rich Colombians

Day and night
young folk with automatics
suck la vida from piping that shoots
crazily across thick country

Day and night
military colors kidnap, kill
oil factory unionists who want
fair working conditions
whilst making la vida

Day and night
So many afraid.
Who is
        WAY, TRUTH, and LA VIDA?
Is Christ's kingdom in our midst?
Show us your way, O God.