It’s a visual feast

Pictures only tell part of our story

Travelling through the sacred valley

Basic homes, many half built

My Western lens is tinged with guilt

That our two countries are worlds apart

Yet part of the same world, it tears my heart

Hand to mouth, a basic life

Farm to fork, or even knife

Hard daily graft, just to survive

Such contrast with Western sedentary life

Ashamed of my ivory tower at home

Here we receive a generous welcome

Because tourist income helps communities thrive

Keeps them alive

But climate changes ravage their land

It’s impact uncertain to understand

But with Westernisation that will inevitably come

Too soon this will all be gone

And will ruin the soul

of the Sacred Valley