Saturday, June 18, 2011

Father

A letter to my Papi.
You taught me about food for the spirit. You, who had not enough food at times as a boy.
Yet you ventured into a piano store and taught yourself to play the classical pieces that you would listen to all your life; your beloved Tchaikovsky and so many of your other Russian friends. You passed this love to us with care. You dubbed tapes for us and pointed out particular heart notes in the music. Many times we did not understand but the music you loved was sustaining to us. It held us up as we danced the dance of life.

You embraced the beauty of the Redwood tree and drew its strength to you. It flowed onto us as we gazed up hundreds of feet to the heights. Now our sons and daughters gaze up and their sons and daughters too. We walked among the giants on father's day and I thought mostly of you and your awe before them.

You found sustenance in the word and though I mostly remember you active and always doing something with your hands, you still found time to lead me to books and poetry that became the food for thought I needed to grow into my own person with strong ideas and opinions.

¿Y tu Perú Papi? La tierra de tu nacimiento y fuente de inspiración para Pichi Cuma, los cuentos que nuestros hijos crecieron escuchando. Tu aseguraste de que nunca olvidemos de dónde venimos. Tu nos inspiraste el amor a toda su belleza y desaliño. Soy peruana de principio a fin gracias a ti.

The world weighed heavy at times in your life but you never strayed far from the spirit. My dear Papa, your legacy is rich. I am a better person because of you. I miss and love you dearly. La Flacita.

http://youtu.be/RG83EmwJpo8