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Bedouin of the Jungle

David Lohrey

The young man said he was Brazilian
But I knew he was lying.
He spoke some nonsense about mixed
Parentage, some shit about a black father
And a mother who is white. I simply can’t
Believe - this black and white mix – fully
Explains why he looks Arab.

He has an 8 inch tattoo of a blue and green
Lighthouse covering his arm. This image,
He explained, beckons; it shows the way.
It guides and welcomes, but demands nothing.
It announces accessibility. It does not
Prevent escape. This lad, I realized, as he gives
This explanation, wishes to be this lighthouse,
To host and celebrate arrivals and departures,
To be a beacon to his fellows.

This youth from the tropics looks to be
A Bedouin from Arabia. His olive skin
And black locks give it away. He admits
He can’t fool the ladies. They love his
Exotic curls. Once they get their hands on him,
They know they’ve met a wanderer.
He thinks like a nomad, not a farmer.
The girls can see he is of a clan of travelers,
Not a tribe of settlers. He was born in Sao Paulo,
But has adopted the mentality of the sands.

The Bedouin of the Amazon like those of the desert
Show bravery when attacked. They are not afraid
But, not unlike their sandy brethren, prefer to recite
Erotic poetry, to sing and dance around the camp fire.
This youth of mixed heritage may be black and white,
But his state of mind not his blood lines defines his race.
The tribe to which he belongs dwells in harbors
Of river water not burning sand, but like the Arabs
He welcomes strangers with open arms.

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