We’d all heard enough about your world travels when...
We were being driven by a man
who was driven from his homeland
Poor and probably better educated
than us combined
He came for his family
for the prosperity of food
But the ride was not enough, you needed
an offer of congratulations: you had been
there or near there somewhere near his home
And you had to tell him,
this some-odd person of the night
of your mock wonder, your exploring eye
You wanted white teeth, a sharp smile
a gesture of congratulations
For your Americanass
having done your world touring
stuffed sitting on a bus, camera in hand
and then you needed a thank you
a why isn’t that nice?