Bonaire is famous for its clear
warm waters,
its reefs,its fish
Its Divers that will say
its wonderful to go
as do the snorkellers
and here we are the two
of us who know

Ocean Village got there
on the first day of the year
the taxi's all were queing up
right along the pier
we walked through into Kralendijk
which really was quite small
a couple of small gift shops
and a pretty grotty mall
there were a few shops open
but despite a ship in port
some just never bothered
too blooming tired I thought!
we ambled back towards the ship
and sat a while to see
the myriad of fishes
they were just in front of me
and then we thought we'd get a taxi
perhaps go on a tour
walking passed them
we espied a van and an open door
He had a 4 wheel drive
we had a chat and we were sure
this bloke could be useful
though he wanted at least 4

I explained last night was party time
where many drank too much
Now out of bed many can't climb
but we really came as such
so as it started drizzling
he said that he would show
both of us the island
as we were keen to go
we drove passed the Distillation Plant
sea water becomes what
they drink
and on a wooden pile
an iguana's head I think
we caught sight of it motionless
hiding in this pile
Its funny just too see them
we watched him for a while
Then Farid stopped and told us
of the faces in the caves
and the outline of the iguana
that the wind and rain now saves
a thousand steps down to the sea
turquoise to the eye
the sea here is spectacular
it makes all brave hearts cry
and a Modest little DIVI plant
when squeezed emits a gum
and this was really super
as it worked when we tried some!
He talked about the Caribes
the indigenous tribe who
were keyed up on their plant lore
But now few people knew
what all the trees were useful for
for they had left Bonaire
He wanted to know all about them
But they just wern't there

There were no trees of any size, in Bonaire
some company had torn them down to make
charcoal that is really blooming irksome
someone should have truly tried to break
their hold on what is really so resourceful
but still that is reality so we
had to see the country minus tall trees
viewing it as quite a tragedy

we really have to stop these blooming companies
marching into places like they do
and tearing down rainforests which are paramount to the countries future progress,
that's my view

we passed the Bonaire Petroleum and Tank
Farm
crude oil being handled on the sea
thats where we saw lots of castor oil plants
and cacti they were growing wild and free

we turned inland to Goto meer, and Guinea man
across the water Farid called my name
sure enough we heard a mighty echo
and a lot of bubbling water yes the same
Farid said the locals do not use this road not when it gets dark they walk in fear
Guinea man may come and eat their hearts out
he prays on souls that wander around here
I have to say the place was very eerie I can't explain the water or the sound
as far as I can see there was no reason
and I had a really thorough look around!

and then we saw the crowds of shimmering orange, prima donna's of the bird world they
practice standing on one leg for ever
Sadlers Wells, No, Bonaire's great ballet
Farid said these birds had been there centuries
crapping in the lake for all their worth
and now the crap and mud had formed some minerals
and they together had now become worth
a lot in healing quality apparent
skin diseases gone he seemed to feel
he believed that somebody with money
could make a killing here, it seems unreal
onward into Rincoln where the slaves were
Bonaire's oldest settlement it seems
I thought I might have seen some big iguana's
but clearly they were only in my dreams
By the roadsides, there were Gumbo Limbo trees,
quite a sculpture with a strange pink bark
the Caribes used it to ward off bad stomachs
The naked Indian thus left its mark
it has no age rings just a corky heart mass
often by the roadside it does hide
Thanks to young Farid for all his knowledge
and especially for the really splendid ride