Today I went with my friend Carolyn to meet a group from the Street Youth Ministries at her alpaca farm. Shortly after we arrived, we all went out with carrots to greet the alpaca. Their caretaker told us that the alpaca were skittish today, because a strong wind had been blowing. He thought it affected them by roaring in their ears. In any case, they seemed more reluctant than usual to approach us. But eventually, some of them did.
Street youth meet Alpaca
They walk within the frames they have created
to hold their fragile sense of who they are
They point and laugh, but show appreciation
for this strange group that watches from afar
who twitch as one, and turn, alert, to scan them
and take in every move they make, all ready
to bolt, or maybe come a little closer
if something should entice them to approach
Each eager hand holds out a carrot
Each one holds out a gift in hope
The stakes almost to high for them to bear it
Alpaca-skittish, each may let it drop:
Will any of these clear-eyed wild ones see
my worthy soul inside and come to me?
©Wendy Mulhern
March 30, 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment