AT THE TAM TAM

Early morning
In the bush
Ivory Coast,
West Africa.
For the first time,
I can see clearly.
My thoughts
With the smoke
From my idle cigarette,
Vanishing
Into nothingness.

A continent away
My other world was spinning
Oblivious
To my bliss:
My soul skinny dipping
In the pool
Of timeless space.

My ego,
Defrocked
By the lack of competition,
My spirit soars
Far above
The world of mundane
occupations,
'Til I glide down
To take my place
With the struggling
Human race.

Lee says, "When I wrote the following poem, I was fortunate enough to be treated to a trip to visit my brother in West Africa. We were staying at The Tam Tam, a sort of bed-and-breakfast. "