Welcome to Paradise
The mother sits within her palm-thatched hut
Surrounded by stray dogs, their shit, and flies.
She sells blond surfers unripe coconut
For crypto underneath rich tropic skies.
Her children spear for fish and build their toys
From plastic bags, they surf on driftwood planks.
They wear clothes left behind by expat boys
And girls, ripped rash guards reading “f*ck the banks.”
The tourist tree-pose on the sand while wading
In the sea. Taking Insta pics, they lie
In hammocks day-drinking and day-trading
On Macbooks stickered with “live free or die.”
It’s paradise on Bitcoin Beach, they say,
Just learn to smile and turn the other way.
by Maya Clubine
from Rattle Magazine, 6/30/23