rrodriguez

El Yunque

The red-tailed hawk,

swoops to catch prey

The aggressive grey kingbird,

defends its nest

The Nightingale tweets

& sings all-day

The Elfin-woods Warbler,

Melodious and happy.

They got thirsty in the streets,

hated the choking smoke

So they came to you one day,

An oasis of peace

They’ve come to you many times,

Always to find the solace

El Yunque, rain forest,

in your embrace

Your strong arms pulled them

into the secret womb

To the sun-warmed rocks,

lie in mossy bowers

To sing love songs,

breathe the fragrant atmosphere

To kiss the gentle flowers,

pregnant with sweet nectar

Then cool, clear water fills

the bubbling springs

A  blanket of phantasm-grey mist

in the morning day

The sun pierces through it

With lances of light

It shines gleefully all day ‘til

darkness comes tiptoeing

Daylight yawns & moves on,

they burrowed in their nests

And the stars bathe

the rainforest with stardust.