The missionary wiped the sweat
That formed small beads on his sunburnt brow.
Never had he thought that learning
A language would be so hard till now.

But learning a language and studying a culture
So very different from his own,
Deep in the Amazonian jungle--
A damp and brutal climate zone--

Were challenges that he was eager
Because of his Christian faith to accept,
Even though he had to watch out
For poisonous creatures wherever he stepped.

His goal: to learn the language there
In order to translate the Holy Bible
So he could teach the truth as he knew it
To various peoples, godless and tribal.

His dual role as a servant of God
And graduate student studying linguistics
Opened his mind and heart to embrace
The people's diverse characteristics.

Constant threats were jaguars, insects,
And anacondas in the river,
Along with shifty river pilots
Transporting goods to trade or deliver.

After years of being there
And putting up with a bare subsistence,
He pondered why his ideas among
The people were met with such resistance.

Occurring to him suddenly
As an epiphany, he had to face
The fact that maybe he had been
Peddling his goods in the wrong place.

Why did he need to fix the people?
They were fine just as they were.
If he tried to change their beautiful
Way of life, what would occur?

They had faith in themselves and lived
Without worry, fear, or despair.
He was imposing his own concept
Of truth on them. How unfair!

Questioning his own ideas,
He clarified his own confusion
And saw that life without absolutes
Was one way to see through delusion.

How ironic! He'd gone to Brazil
With good intentions, though smug and prim,
To try to convert the people there;
They, however, converted him.

-by Bob B (12-3-17)

°Inspired by the experiences of Daniel L. Everett

You are a gem among the souls
Polished to sharp edges
Radiating spectrum of colors when held
A smile of the morning sun
Stretching around your simple creation
Stops time in its track
Lips of heavenly clouds
Stained my heart in a single kiss
Eyes of cocoa dream
Dancing to imaginary tunes
Drowning the roars of the ocean around
People speculating insanity
But for me
An addiction unlike other
A heart that leaves even the saints envious
Look at what you have made
What you are
What you hold
A life
Of unmade bed
And adorable pups
Filled with passion
For chocolates
And lust for adventures
Pay no heed to the whispers
That haunt your ears
For they are just jealous
Of what you have
And what they don't
A beautful life,
Of your making.
- ©M

It’s my day at last
To put on a mask
And be someone else.
But who shall I choose.

“The Scream” has been done
The President too
The Ewoks and Yoda
Have used up their moment.

Shall I be avenging
Or Little Bo Peep
Shall I become Gaga
Or Atilla the ***

I’d like to be pretty-
Liz Taylor perhaps
But her day is over
So why not Beyonce.

Pretty gets boring
Just ask Taylor Swift
Maybe I’d rather
Be someone less fancy

Someone who cries
For mistreated dogs
And beautiful sunsets
And other folks love

Someone who laughs
When irony rules
And giggles when
Everything turns upside down

Who is that person
And where is the mask
If I cannot buy it
I’ll just go as me.
        ljm

This is my hour of gladness
Here in this holy place
Joy that forbids all sadness
Glows as I see your face.

Bells proclaim the moment
God be with us now
As we seek fulfillment
In this sacred vow.

The things you bring to me
Will now and ever be
The greatest gift my world has known
All our tomorrows will be golden
Because the two of us are one.

You give your  heart to me
And in it I can see
A life of joy as our reward.
The love that we have built together
Will in God's blessing be restored.

If we walk with the Lord He'll help us to grow
And become ever strong and pure
He will show us the way to know in harmony each day
Love will endure.

The things you've given me
Are now and endlessly
The richest gift my world can own.
Tomorrow promises fulfillment
Because the two of us are one
God gives his blessing on this moment
As now the two of us are one.
                            ^^^

When I am old I will say what I think
And not worry to be thought a clown or a fool.

When I am old I will borrow from youth
As guiltlessly as a child robs the cookie jar.

When I am old I will throw away fashion
And dress myself solely in comfort as I please.

When I am old I will share anger I feel
Instead of letting it take bites out of my soul.

When I am old I will walk away quickly
From those who’s motives I find to be suspect.

When I am old I will sleep in my chair
And have picnics on my bed if I so choose.

When  I am old I will go to the places
That in youth I deemed not appropriate.

When I am old I will will buy stuff that sparkles
Simply because I like shiny things.

When I am old I will sing when I feel it
And not fret that my voice isn’t pretty.

When I am old I will pet everyone’s puppies
And laugh as they lick all over my face.

When I am old I will  stop tearing up like a fool
When parade marching bands with their banners go by.

When I am old I will be sprung from this prison
Referred to as rational adult behavior.

When I am old.

Yes, when I am old.

ljm