To Bogotá, Colombia: A Love Letter

I don’t know why I love you,
It’s very hard to explain,
You can be so grumpy in the mornings,
When all you do is rain.

I don’t know why I love you,
With that huge gap ‘twixt rich and poor,
The Ferrari showroom on seventh avenue,
A refugee sleeping at its door.

I don’t know why I love you,
I think you’re a little bit nuts,
The traffic doesn’t move at all on Saturday,
And everybody tuts.

I guess you’re one of those loves,
For which there are no words,
Just rainbows, art and churches,
And those brave old humming birds.

It hardly can be your fault,
The poverty and all those cars,
You would be warmer if you could be,
But you’re so close to the stars.

So instead you open up your arms,
And let us in that door,
To sell our wares and find our way,
A home forever more.

They say you’re going to change a lot,
But we know it has begun,
With your smart cafés and restaurants,
You’re learning to have fun.

But please remember, when you change,
Who believed in you at first,
Who told the world how great you were,
Despite seeing you at your worst.

For Bogotanos they are loyal folk,
With a smile or coin at hand,
Without them you could’ve been lost for good,
And now look where you stand.

Yes I know why I love you,
You’ve shown me how to survive,
You’ve seen how low it’s possible to go,
And you’ve found a way to thrive.

*

(Happy Love and Friendship Day, Bogotá)