Prologue
One swims within a snake pit,
Not large enough to swim within,
And finds some allies in that darkness,
One may never see again,
Like broken pieces of a sunken ship,
Disappeared by waves and wind;
At least they offer buoyancy,
Which buys some time for drowning souls,
To craft farewells and make their plea,
To sky, that their adieus will find their goals. [10]
Gaze at the horizon as it drips with golden rays,
Saddened grin is given by the edges of defining mountain range;
As gaseous ball of ardor suffocates another night,
I sit upon a rock and ponder all the outcasts of its light;
Crepuscule bends to Night's demands,
Anon the moon does show its face;
The scene I next see, the night owl understands,
And all of the other wights that can keep its pace.
From every corner and crevice of the Jungle,
Does claw and crawl out each nocturnal creature, [20]
And ofttimes in the process the prey will bungle,
And Azrael will act as teacher,
For there is no rest in the Jungle's breast,
Father Opportune is preacher.
Part I: The Wanderer
Amidst the lovely trees I was by haunting malice beset,
Howe'er the flora must be noted for its beauty and its blissfulness,
Yet, as you know, what's pretty snow, when one is by the blizzard beset:
Does a buss on the lips feel the same if one knows he'll be slain after lips are reset?
I felt a chilling sensation travel from base of my back to bottom of neck,
And my beating heart so nearly did stop when I heard the sound confirming my terror; [30]
A harrowing growl assuredly from a behemoth of yore made vehement beck,
That I would turn round and grant all my attention but certainly I did feel that would be error.
I huddled up so I could not be assailed,
But there was no escape from what was behind me;
The angst I bore afore that day all surely paled,
When compared to that nightmare from which I couldn't flee;
I was turned around and stretched supine,
Despite my long, frenzied resistance to menace;
I clenched my eyes so tight that even brine,
Could not alone hope to escape lashes' lattice, [40]
But my hands were pinned on either side of me
(Though dared not I see means employed),
So when it began to turn each eyelid's key,
I knew all of my efforts were soon to be void.
Part II: The Adventurer
I cut through a jungle with sharpened machete,
Delivering all who opposed me to grave;
By the time I reached this jungle's paunch the sun had sunk already,
But I was one who felt prepared the night to brave.
Came across a stream that stretched as far as I could see,
Speedy water shallow-looking so I hoped to cross it, [50]
Thought I'd touch the bottom or could wade within,
But stream engulfed me thoroughly,
Anon I felt that I'd be forced this mortal plain to quit,
But I was spit on other side with naught but feeble grin.
I clawed my way from the muck of the shore,
Bending back several nails in that frantic crawl,
And after coughing violently I did my legs implore,
To walk in celebration of escaping pall.
I lost my gear within the stream,
And clothes were now quite tattered, [60]
Helpless as if in a dream,
As I floundered in the waters and by rocks was battered.
Bloodily I stumbled till yet deeper in the Jungle,
Galumphing on till wear and hunger pulled me to my knees;
I peered at trees intently finding not one fruit did dangle,
But I was distracted from corporal decline by sound of ardent pleas.
