chiseled bodies and rough hands
contrast soft paleness of shielded legs
knees bruised from tripping over unfamiliar words
that feel wrong on my tongue
tiny light footsteps leave a trail behind me
with smiles of resilience that greet me
when i set foot on this clustered dust
american lust welcomed but foreign all the same

braiding isn't as easy when you have so many extra hairs
long and blonde on dark slender fingertips
pushing and pulling
dancing and threading
weaving culture into my scalp

the sky looks different here, light and dull
the clouds are scattered in wisps of cotton
the sun is a star cut out of construction paper
blown away by hurricanes
paper bags are their puppets,
they smile and say jambo

scenic beaches feel wrong,
but i can't escape paradise
when trees serenade me
the choir speaks to me,
praying with their hearts beating
in calloused open hands
ridged with a childhood
i don't want to understand
tears stained eyes look at me with pride
hung up to dry like laundry left behind
stronger than i could ever hope to be
resilient as the wind
that will never cease to sing

tired eyes open
awoken by giggles,
and loud screeching animals
the sound of the birds
can't compare to the sound of their laughter
staring with fascination
eyes of admiration
ambitions greater than my own
a feeling that i've never known and i’ll never forget
when she told me she loved me
and i promised her i'd come back

and our time will never be long enough
because i don't want to leave behind
the smiles and the secrets and the dreams and jump-rope
but i swear i'll take with me wherever i go
the memories of paradise
when they chased us down for a hug and said jambo