Tahitian Heat

Based on my travels to the pacific

Standing like melting butter

After landing at the Faa’a airport,

The Tahitian heat was,

Well, shocking.

“Il ne peut pas faire aussi

Chair en enfer.”

Pape’ete, only an hour’s flight from

The equator was unexpected.

Pristine resorts, and villagers with

Nothing. Makes me wonder what

Gauguin saw this place anyways.

Wild Ferrel dogs, vanilla bean trees,

O and pineapples, lots of pineapples.

In reminds me of rage.

What my rage feels like

As it’s on fire in my lungs. Simmering.

Calm exterior, but a tiger on fire

On the inside.

Someday this volcanic island

Will blow its top and the smoke

Will rise to the heavens.

Why me. Why me?

In Tahiti I stand with clinched jaws,

Worried and wondering about those

Robert Frost roads I never traveled.  

I did, at least get to swim with dolphins.