"Love Bourg"

In Guadeloupe the ocean is blue
as I walk towards it down grey paved streets
The sleepy village of Bourg awakens
with its beautiful colors of red, orange, and yellow;
A bird I've never heard sings its song
and I whistle along picking out the tune of the heart

Fisherman and sailors prepare at the wharf
for another long day's work
but for me the day is pleasure
as my sandals skip across pavement
leading me to love.

The trees are alive, forest green swaying in the wind
and the light rustling reminds me
of the fluttering in my heart
the light pitter patter anticipation can cause

A woman in housedress on a front porch
smiles broadly and waves at me
she knows the look of love is the same
in any language
and on the Isle of The Saints
love is especially strong.

I am different, almost a tourist
white skin not yet turned by the sun
and yet they recognize me as one of their own
why just yesterday I was offered a job
when the visa runs out

I walk towards the church
its stone tower toppled with gold
and I wonder will the bells ring
when they see me coming
or will they wait until all is done.

On the church steps they stand waiting
hiding one from the foreigner's view
the priest nods and smiles
I think he doubted I would come
but a promise spoken is a promise kept
on happy days such as this.

The parting of the crowd gathered
reveals the joy of Bourg
the daughter of the sun, sister to the sea
love of my life, sweet island girl
and there to the village's witness
we are married.

The bells ring now
and the sailors and fisherman look
up from their work and grin
as we all go down to the quay
to celebrate the cleansing of love

Into the water we wade as a couple
symbolically bathing
before the best kiss of my life
this love, this is true love
in the colorful village of Bourg.