Bohemians

For James
Jerome

     Sullenly the wild bohem trudges through the mud and much in search of
unknown Camelots and inspirations and enlightenment
     Peering beneath heavy rocks and carrying on deep conversations with
the beetles and snails and wise old moths who speak of ancient times
     Picking berries from prickly vines and nuts from lanky trees and
slurping sparkling water from slowly trickling streams
     The wild bohem was blind to pain, he'd known too much already – he'd
hidden himself in his own little world where no man could disturb him
     ‘Til one day a weary wanderer stumbled across the bohem's nest –
surprise set in, then caution, but perhaps it was for the best
     Extending a hand, "Hello," he said, "my name is Wanderer."  "James,"
responded the bohemian, "I live here all alone."
     "And I have found you, little bohem, perhaps we shall be friends!"
"That may be so, but I refuse to go back to the pain you know."
     "Then I will stay h ere with you – I can be a bohem too."  "Very well,
then let it be – you may be a bohem with me."
     So the wild bohem took the wanderer and showed him all he knew – how
to pick berries and where to find water and to avoid the world around them.

     The Wanderer lived with James a year and then began to think – "I miss
my home, I miss emotion, I miss the whole wretched mess!"
     "Little Bohem, come with me.  There is something I want to show you."
He led him by his bohemian paw back to the world where imagination and
idealism ruled.
     He showed the bohem both the good and the bad, but focused on the good
– teaching him that to livein love is by far the greatest boon –
     "To see the antipodal good and evil is something all men do – but to
live for good and show love to others is something done by far too few."
     So there again the bohems lived, in truth and love and peace, and
shared their message with the world –  that love is all you need.