Es Porque Un Pajarito... y Hector: Las Nubes Tales

This past Tuesday, April 23rd 2012 I had to recite a poem by a Salvadoran poet of my choosing. During the week leading up to the day of the recital I was looking in vein for the perfect poem. Something simple, but not too simple. Short, sweet, and captured something about my experience here in El Salvador.

The Monday before I climbed Las Nubes— the Volcano community I visit twice a week—and imagined myself reading the poem in front of my class. I had to do it by memory so I needed a memorable poem. The rest of the morning went on as usual and I forgot about the poem. As we descended the volcano it started pouring rain—this is not typical for April, the rains don’t rain hard until July—and we rushed down the Mountain to the Soya Project Comedor (Where we eat lunch every Monday). As I sat at the table, drenched and dirty from the pulvo turning into mud, I took a breath and began talking to my guide and friend in Las Nubes, Hector.

Hector is actually a lot more than just our praxis coordinator. He is one of my mentors here in El Salvador. A friend and a father figure of sorts. We occasionally call him our “Padrigo”—padre and amigo (father friend). He is the epitome of a man who lives out his faith. He has been doing the pastoral work for El Pueblo de Dios en Camino (my Praxis site) for the last 3 years or so and is genuinely one of the best men I know. He is a hard worker, doing whatever he has to for the people in Las Nubes and often going to meetings with the local Alcaldia (Government) on his days off. He listens attentively to the people’s needs, and does everything in his power to find some sort of resolution to whatever problem that arises. With us, he jokes, supports, challenges, and pushes us to take in this experience for all it is. He can do all this in a single sentence, or rant however you want to look at it haha.

One of Hector’s true talents is his ability to stop and smell the flowers. Both metaphorically and quite literally. He’ll often stop on our way up the Volcano and simply point out a butterfly effortlessly hovering over a red flower, or a “Sope” (vulture) gliding ominously above the canopies, or a tree that seems particularly climbable lol. I love this about him. I remember early, as we made our way down the dusty arid road, he stopped suddenly and pointed into the green foliage, and said “Torogos!” in something of a loud whisper. I stopped too and looked intently at the tree tops hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever the hell the “Torogos” was. I looked and looked and didn’t see a thing. Perhaps Hector wasn’t so good at this? As soon as that thought entered my mind a beautiful cerulean and emerald colored bird jumps off the branch of the tree it was perfectly camouflaged on, and exited my frame. God was it beautiful. Every praxis day from then on in I hoped desperately that I would see one again and catch a longer glimpse at the national bird of El Salvador.

Since then, this bird has evaded me time and time again until recently when I was able to view it in action for 5 minutes or so. I took this photo.

The bird is dead center and camouflages beautifully into its surroundings.

This beautiful bird is a staple of Las Nubes. One of the true gems to behold on the volcano. And Hector lived up to his name as nature man extraordinaire. As Hector and I began to eat and converse I spoke about my poem assignment. Without hesitating he began recited a poem by memory. In the middle of the comedor he recited, in its entirety, Alfredo Espino’s “El Nido”.

Alfredo Espino

“El Nido”

Es porque un pajarito de la montaña ha hecho,
en el hueco de un árbol, su nido matinal,
que el árbol amanece con música en el pecho,
como que si tuviera corazón musical.

Si el dulce pajarito por entre el hueco asoma,
para beber rocío, para beber aroma,
el árbol de la sierra me da la sensación
de que se le ha salido, cantando, el corazón.

This poem was exactly what I needed for my class. And it made it all the sweeter that I didn’t find it online but from my dear friend and mentor, Hector. The poem talks about the nest of a bird in the mountains and eloquently sums up my experience with Hector and the Torogos. Its amazing what can be found by simply paying attention and being in the presence of one another, and never forgetting to occasionally stop and smell the flowers.

Until Next time,
Much Love,
Medina