TRAVELOGUE

Leaving the Park to be packed in
Flight of some destiny, coming to a point
Where, I must go. I am tired of traveling
Putting my life out, away in uncontrolled
Circumstances pushing against an
Invisible resistance, a bubble of air
Infringing on time. Transported to other parks
Other consecrated spaces, shaded geometries
Thousands of unknown faces, random lives
Crisscrossing the planet. Are we all to be united
Within an integral covenant, must we all be
Integrated into a universal cause?
Where are we all going?

How much are we willing to pay for a dream?
As an old man, older than me, blizzard of white hair
Tropic heat, wiping his sweaty brow, pedaling
His bicycle of cargo loaded with kitchen gas cylinders
Passed me by.

Then at night a great thunderstorm cruised slowly
Over head, waking me in its majesty, glorious life
Renewing, bowing in reverence before the work
Of our Master to electric chains linking sizzling
Sheets of steel mesh deafening cracks jolting the air
In thunderous slaps.  Exploding transformers
Disconnect light, darkness and steady water
Enormous drops drumming wild Caribbean beats
As thunderheads patrol randomly, firing and zapping
Stimulating life, energizing new bursts of green
The frenzied pelting soon subsiding into steady rhythms
Soothing me back to sleep.

1. Jan G. Otterstrom F.

July 23, 2007
          La Habana,  Cuba