Bliss In Her Ignorance

The lone coconut tree that dared to lean towards the sea, gave shade to her friends while playing on the beach. Running half-naked so natural to those blossoming teens, mother's lagoon fishing straddling the sea so blue and pristine. Water glistening on her bare breasts with ti-leaves as a skirt, father hunting in the bush, tanned and muscular without a shirt. Other than a t-string, he was completely nude culturally, he was fully dressed in a traditional tattoo. Then the missionaries came! Pagan worshippers too many idols, so they said And their One true God Did not condone her ways. Erotic moonlight dancing, the young's cultural right but like nakedness, was labeled the devil's own delight. They cut her hair and she woke up wearier, found everything foreign was then superior. The young's wild spirits, broken like tamed fillies brown skin covered from head to their Achilles. Mother's long tresses made to hide in a bun head to toe dressed in cotton, in the heat of the sun. Father's tattoo was a mark of the devil's blood rites. Respect meant wearing suits with matching ties. Many years later traditional dress covered all except the face. Confused why bare flesh in a hot place could be such a disgrace. Then came the tourists, lovers and sun-seekers to paradise. Beaches were the destination; brown,tanned skin the ultimate prize. New trendsetters, a see-thru blouse, a bikini top and mini skirts. Worst of all were the logos "God is Dead" on their t-shirts. They swam in near nudity and lovers embraced on the shore. Oblivious to bold writings in brochures, of things banned in Samoa: "Please respect our Culture; Sunday only for God to be adored, No Flesh Exposures and do your Kissing Indoors."