I want to be blinded by Tokyo’s lights
While I march with a herd of hundreds
Across hectic streets of a booming city,
Glazing with neon signs, humming with humans,
And vibrating with technology,
After I’ve eaten some sushi.

I want to cringe at the death of a bull
As he is slain by the matador
Circling about in his jeweled suit,
Flipping his cape this way and that,
And plunging his sword into the beast’s back.
The Spaniards go wild with cheers
Spoken in a frantic language.

I want to gasp for breathe as I trek up the Andes Mountains
Reaching the highest peak,
22, 834 feet above sea level,
Taking thousands and thousands of steps to reach the top
Leading a donkey carrying my sleeping bag, tent, and food,
As my caravan looks over the panoramic view of Chile.

I want to be lost in thought
As I cross an array of landscapes
And deal with snow, rain, and heat,
That I have found in my backyard, the U.S.,
And I just drive and drive through places like
The deserts of Las Vegas, the swamplands of Florida, and the Black Hills.

I want to have my jaw drop at the sight of
African wildlife including lions, giraffes, and gazelles,
Grazing through the tall, dry, desert grasses.
I will feel compassion and sorrow for the poverty I see
As I go through village after village
And at the same time be captivated by
Their lifestyle, their simplicity and their content state.





I want to be captivated at the sight of
A snake charmer manipulate a snake
Into dancing to the rhythm of their instrument,
As I stroll through the swarming, chaotic markets of Morocco,
Trying to take in the smells of the spices.

I want to teeter at the edge of a cliff
Overlooking the thrashing and smashing waters of the Atlantic Ocean
Surrounded by the never-ending green of the Irish hills
And picking my way through towns populated only by a few,
But those few being some of the friendliest I’ve ever met.

I want to hear the call to worship
As I pace from mosque to mosque in Turkey,
Entangled in a culture that is unknown and mysterious to most,
Gazing at the Islamic architecture,
Abundant with geometric shapes, calligraphy, and floral patterns.

I want to be mesmerized by the works of art
That fill the halls of the Louvre,
A jewel to the Parisians,
And be amazed by the perfection of Caravaggio’s works,
Timelessness of the Nike of Samothrace,
And the fame of the Mona Lisa.

I want to tremble in the extreme cold of Antarctica,
Looking over miles of white glaciers,
And wishing for just a warm cup of coffee,
As I see a place deserted by people,
Unaware of time,
and lost to the rest of the world.

I want to be
Stunned,
Terrified,
Perplexed,
Educated,
Fulfilled,
Blessed,
By the beauty of the world.