About a year ago
I was engaged in a project
Deep in Brazil
I was researching
Why the Amazon
Once flowed
In the opposite direction
From East to West
Instead of from West to East
All went well
Until I badly twisted
My ankle in a fall
I was confined to a village
Which at first bored me
But I soon slowed down
And adopted the way of life
Only one person in the village
Spoke any kind of English
A girl who I called Valerie
As she resembled my sister
Although limited we communicated
And taught each other many things
These were the most peaceful weeks
That I have ever spent and they changed me
I have since informally adopted the village
And have arranged for Valerie and her brother
To receive a formal education in the USA