Somali Soul Food
A holiday backdrop so painful,
reminds us that justice is rare.
Children too weakened to cry out ...
gaunt parents lost in despair.
A "mother and child" paint a picture
of seasons so joyful and mild.
But famine, pain, and starvation
bring tears to the eyes of God's child.
Leaving their families behind them.
They're off on a mission of hope.
Food convoys, risk, and service
in dangerous regions remote.
Food's not the core of this issue.
It's love and humanity, too.
The grain will sustain the bodies,
but all will find SOUL FOOD anew.
Doing something to quell the hunger
will feed all in more ways than one.
For spirits are filled up and lifted
by doing good deeds left undone.
SOUL FOOD is bestowed on the giver
as well as those who receive.
All souls yearn and hunger for meaning ...
a PURPOSE in which to believe.
Oh God as you look down upon us
striving to help and to cope,
thanks for the true gift of SOUL FOOD ...
your message of PEACE and of HOPE!
-Barbara Jack- 1992
Somali Soul Food Back Story
During December of 1992, there was a bustle of activity at Fort Lewis Washington. Troops were being prepared for the long flight to Somalia. Hundreds of children and adults were dying each day and the terrible images of emaciated children was more than people could stand to look at. When the decision was made to send troops to protect food convoys, there were mixed feelings concerning risks and results. The images on the evening news moved me to write Somali Soul Food.
General Carmen Cavezza, the commanding officer of Fort Lewis sent the poem to be shared with his troops. Colonel Harper wrote from Somalia to say the poem had been read to the troops in formation, posted on the bulletin boards and shared at Sunday services. Colonel Harper also wrote that many of the troops were seen making copies of the poem from the posted copy.
I was touched. I tried to visualize the scene in my mind. Soldiers in a foreign land, in harms way, and the commanding officer standing in front of them to read my poem. Amazing! It was not having my poem read in a distant land that touched me .... even though it was an exciting thought. What touched me was realizing that General Cavezza had the sensitivity to know that he could give added value to his troops' efforts by reminding them that their work was more important than simply guarding food convoys. They were giving life and hope to the Somali people and to themselves. On one level they helped feed the people and on another level they helped feed their own souls.
Barbara Jack performs Somali Soul Food
In the Spring of 1993, the opportunity arose to present the poem to the people of Northwest Medical Teams, who worked with the children in Somalia. When someone asked them about the futility of feeding people who may still starve in a month or so, they had to answer. They said, "We give them today ... so they can have tomorrow!" This is hope.
Later that year, I received an invitation to attend a luncheon at Fort Lewis and share the poem with families. I was thrilled to have such an opportunity since, as a child, I had lived on the base during WWII. Honoring General Cavezza for his thoughtfulness meant a lot to me as I believe that is an important reason our military becomes like family with the men and women in their platoons. They have to know it is more than being tough ... it is also being there for their people's need to be cared or. I was and still am impressed with leaders who care about the whole person. That is all a part of the SOUL FOOD!
