The Jungle in Me

I had a family once, a long time ago.

We were always together, wherever we’d go.

We’d walk in tandem all of the time,

From the oldest to the youngest, me falling behind.

Our father always led the way, a brave man in his day;

Our mother always offered comfort and often watched us play.

We never camped in just one place, we always had to travel.

Along the way, I saw mysteries that someday I would unravel.

The jungle had a constant fog that sunbeams could not split;

And so we walked hand in hand so not one of us would quit.

We’d cut our feet, we’d trip and fall, but never down we’d stay;

Our parents raised us up so well that we’d never lose our way.

 

One day our parents ventured alone, and it caught us unaware.

We waited for hours under a tree, alone and in despair.

They never did return that day, a feat I don’t condone

For vanishing in the jungle deep and leaving us alone.

My brother and my sister were all that I had left--

My brother was in the middle and my sister was so deft.

We walked in tandem hand in hand to find our parents lost,

Pressing blindly through the fog, stopping not at any cost.

We traveled far, in the jungle deep, but our parents we didn’t locate.

We pondered and accepted this as truth, perhaps their vanishing was their fate.

 

We camped that night on a grassy hill: we three sat on a log.

Suddenly, we heard our father’s voice echoing from beyond the fog:

“Forgive us, please, for leaving you, but there was nothing we could’ve done.

A monster manifested and it had us on the run.

We did not run towards you for we felt you would be found.

Instead we led it away from you so you’d be safe and sound.

We’re proud of you and we love you too, but despair do not retain.

You will soon find what you’re seeking and you will see us again.”

My brother stood abruptly as he came out of his daze.

Then, down the hill he quickly ran, disappearing into the haze.

My sister darted after him, pulling my hand on her way;

And from a distance we heard a monster growl and bay.

 

 

My brother’s fate was sealed for good and we could not comprehend.

We had heard him screaming frantically but his life we couldn’t defend.

So now it was just the two of us; our hands tight in their grip.

We vowed to be inseparable as we continued on our trip.

My sister said, “Someday we will find mother and everything will be just fine.

She’ll hold us tightly close to her and stroke your hair and mine.”

As we reached a bed of flowers we stopped there to rest.

She smelled each flower fervently and picked for me the best.

I watched her smell more flowers as I rested where I lay;

Remembering when our parents used to watch us run and play.

Excitedly, my sister said she saw something unlike she’d ever seen

And she wanted me to go with her to show me where she’d been.

 

I stood up and walked again holding her hand into the jungle deep.

But I couldn’t go much further for I had to get some sleep.

My sister tugged my arm so hard, forcing me to pursue.

I yawned and said, “I can’t walk much further, this I cannot do.”

She said, “I want to show you a wondrous flower with a beautiful hue.

I want you to smell its fragrance coming from the glistening dew.”

Despite the heavy fog, I wanted to see if this was true;

But as I tripped and fell, she ventured on through and through.

I cried her name out loud in total desperation.

Feeling numb, I stood there crying in a lengthy hesitation.

There was no response, no frantic screaming; I was again a victim of fate.

I quietly remained in place; but without a doubt, pondering my wait.

 

Time has passed as I travel alone, still chasing my ultimate goal

To find my family in the jungle deep, that is my righteous role.

I’ve remained for all this time determined and all alone.

I don’t, however, feel so scared for I’m mature and grown.

I still hear their voices from time to time, their shadows could leave me beguiled.

But I won’t concede to any illusions as my heart is reconciled.

 

I grown ever more tired with each passing day;

I feel that my spirit will soon wither away.

I never comprehended why the fog has remained so dense;

It’s been this way since my childhood, it just does not make sense.

My eyes are playing tricks on me for tired they’ve become.

Under a tree I stop to rest; in sleep I will succumb.

In the dense fog, with echoes stirring; I now can’t see my hands;

But I hear the voices of my family coming from a far off land.

 

Suddenly, the fog had lifted.

The jungle was gone and my spirit had shifted.

There is a beautiful meadow with grass so green;

The wispy clouds above made everything seem serene.

I can see in the distance, under a tree,

My family standing there, waiting for me.

I ran towards them so very fast.

The moment I had waited for is here at last.

Young and revitalized I am again;

Freed from the jungle I shall remain.

I gave up on many things in life

To be in a better place, without strife.

I’ve reached my goal that I struggled to attain in the jungle and bog

All for the sake of a family reunion far beyond the fog.