I came by boat, a wooden boat,
half decked and half open.
The barbarian crew carry animals
to sell, in boxes and cages.
When the storms lash our deck
men and animals howl.
Now here’s land for sure:
a smudge of blue hills,
one lighthouse like a white tooth.
I’ve started to think
how the rich people of this land
will look at me
when I get off this boat
with all these animals.
I know! When I go up to see the Prince
I’ll take Him a beautiful leopard.
—Derek Lamson, September, 1990