Deep like the rivers

"My soul has grown deep like the rivers"

"For when dreams die, Life is like a broken winged bird that cannot fly"

"Bring me all of your dreams you dreamers, bring me all of your heart melodies. That I may wrap them in blue-cloud-cloth away from the too rough fingers of the world."

As my students rehearse these notes and phrases from Langston Hughes, my thoughts have been stirred. I want for my soul to grow deep like the rivers and I want the same for my family and my students.

How do souls gain depth and bredth and an unceasing rolling forward?

We pray- We experience-We commune with God, each other, nature and ourselves. We speak for those who have "no voice" but first and foremost we listen to those who have "no say" say.

Watching the news I see a poll "Has Dr. King's dream been fulfilled with the election of President Barack Obama?" I would have to say yes and no. Certainly we have been reminded that the value of a person, the judge of the character, is not contained in the pigment of their skin. We have been reminded and know that we are created equal.

Yet, as Sam and I look for a new home to purchase we have seen landlords abuse their tenants. Tenants who are in the building illegally (of course I do not know this for sure- but the fact is unquestionable in my mind), I am sure for a myriad of reasons. Tenants who are paying to stay in corners, caves. Landlords cramming kitchens in to what was once surely a closet.

We met a tenant today who invested a good sum of money to own a washer and dryer and the landowner never installed the proper hook-ups. And there, in the tiny kitchen sits a $2,000 closet. Because we cannot waste space or hope that one day there will be proper water and electical lines installed.

We have seen appalling living conditions- people forced to the very corners of existence. Like the down feathers in a pillow, the tenants are smooshed and bent in to the furthest reaches some poking out. The blue cloud cloth is far removed and instead burlap bristles and irritates the knowledge that there is never enough for all- when there is injustice for one.

For many reasons they don't move. For many reasons I can list but do not know, they do not prosecute.

My friends were the victims of a landlord and because of his illegal dealings, all of their rent money (from 2 or 3 years) was returned to them. But this involved a lawsuit- much haggling- many headaches and meetings. The ability to navigate an impossible social/government structure.

In my soul, I know that the tenants we saw today will never have their money refunded. Their landlord is in foreclosure as it is.

Foreclosure: What to do about these houses? All these vacant houses. And the houses that could be homes if anyone had 30% down payment and immaculate credit.

Evicted families. And the evicted families where do they go? Do they pack up in plastic garbage bags their existence and move in with family? Do their relatives live in an illegal apt too? Where do the children go?

How does one foster a deep soul? How does one teach a deep soul?

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy