Bon Dia

I am 71 working
On a big ship lecturing
On the Amazon River near
Manaus where my sister and
I have seen the Opera House in
Amazonia strangely European far
Up the Amazon River which flows
Past our ship wide as strait deep
Fast never stopping fed by one
One major river after another
All that water flowing toward
The Atlantic glinting with
Specs of red at sunrise
And yellow at sunset
Indians in canoes
Watch us with
Eyes dark as
We slide by
Up then
Down
The river
Interlopers
In a green world
Of jungle just beyond
The distant banks too
Far away to see clear
And I think of the
Indian societies
Wiped out by
Visitors and
I am sad
But I
Leave
A sacrificial
Gift to the green
Jungle and brown
Waters of the Amazon
A tithe of flesh and
Blood and my
Fond fare
You well
Bon dia.