The red-tailed hawk
swoops down to catch its prey.
The aggressive grey kingbird
defends its nest.
The nightingale tweets
and sings all day.
The elfin-woods warbler
is melodious and happy.
They got thirsty in the streets,
and hated the choking smoke;
So they came to you one day,
El Yunque, rainforest, an oasis of peace,
in your embrace to find solace.
Your strong arms pulled them
into your secret womb.
To the sun-warmed rocks,
to lie in mossy bowers,
To sing love songs,
to breathe the fragrant air,
To kiss the gentle flowers,
pregnant with sweet nectar.
Where the cool, clear water fills
the bubbling springs.
Where they find a blanket of
phantasm-grey mist
in the morning day.
Where the sun pierces through it
with lances of light and
shines gleefully all day ‘til
darkness comes tiptoeing in.
Daylight yawns and moves on,
the birds burrow in their nests.
And the stars bathe the rainforest
with stardust.