Today, I Would Rather...
Empty by Kim Peters
Today, I would rather . . .
Today, I would rather sip a glass of hot, sweet mint tea with you.
Today, I would rather sit down and make small talk with you,
Today, I would rather create jewelry at the dining room table with you.
Today, I would rather work on your morning Spanish lesson with you.
Today, I would rather do a lot of things with you, my friend,
Today, I would rather spend time with you in other ways, my friend.
But, today, that’s not our reality. But, today, that’s not on our agenda.
Today, we go to the private basement room,
Today, we gather with those who try to help.
Today, we sit around the table together,
Today, we talk about the pain of your journey,
Today, they ask you difficult questions,
Today, they inquire about the hard parts of your life.
Today, you have to tell your whole story,
Today, you have to remember the pages of suffering,
Today, I sit at the middle of the table,
Today, I find myself in the mixed pool of languages.
Today, I listen to them speak in Spanish, in English,
Today, I become dizzy in the linguistic dance.
Today, I listen to you speak Arabic,
Today, I become a language bridge,
Today, I absorb the onslaught of your pain and suffering,
Today, I digest the horrible reality and truth of your story.
Today, I process your deep and raw emotions,
Today, I transmit the message of your hard journey,
Today, I sit and watch you cry,
Today, I reach across the table and hold your hand,
Today, I wipe the falling tears on your cheeks.
Today, I weep with you, my friend.
Today, I drown in the confusing pool of words,
Today, I am a broken translation bridge,
Today, I am the only path of communication,
Today, I am the only verbal link that unites.
Today, your heart breaks as you walk the road of healing.
Today, my heart breaks as I journey with you.
Today, I would rather sip a glass of hot, sweet mint tea with you.
Today, I would rather sit down and make small talk with you,
Today, I would rather create jewelry at the dining room table with you.
Today, I would rather work on your morning Spanish lesson with you.
Today, I would rather do a lot of things with you, my friend,
Today, I would rather spend time with you in other ways, my friend.
Tomorrow, that will be our reality.
Tomorrow, that will be on our agenda.
Tomorrow, let’s have a glass of hot, sweet mint tea.