All While the Squirrel Monkeys Laughed

We were a firestorm.

We were born

from the resin

and rind

and animal lust of

what seedlings

and gumnut-husked spores begged

to smolder

and flare into bloom in

the rainforest.

We were a curse wrapped in love to

the tropic—

.

we were hypnotic

and gorgeous at first, then

a pyre—

chaotic, chaotic.

From the beginning,

we were ravenous,

s e r o t i n o u s,

and sap-to-skin ardent;

we were bestial—

a tryst to the howls

and rumbles

of apes—

we were pith-balmed

and primal—

a riot of light on the palms

and plumes of

the jungle—

.

and together

we tumbled

and snap-crackle-hissed to

our brilliant

and tragic

survival.

We

>>>>We

We were

an arsonist’s rival—

leaping

and bounding

from vine

to vine—

in a frenzy

of sparkle

and wildflame flash—

and oh, how we relished

the act

of etching our names in a heart among ash:

>>>Gina & Chino<<<

>>>>>forever<<<<<

>>>>and ever...<<<<

all while the squirrel monkeys laughed.

*

We became lava and tempest

incarnate.

We made love like

the coiling

of tangled-root-pulp at

the base

of a bonfire’s kiln:

kiss-flick & swill—

fizz-pop & snap...

We were manic

and rabid

then s l o w,

spilling slush:

a slurry

of cinder and steamfoam

to the sea’s lull and hush—

we swayed

and bayed between

hot molten rouge,

and violet,

and sapphire blue (in a cycle)

of soap opera-fuel for

the mirth

and glee of

baboons:

We were romantic—

oh, how we danced

and tranced

and put on a show as we

sipped the crisp rain from a chalice

of glass—

{crack, crack, crack...}

.

We simmered

and softened

and dreamed we'd be married

all while the squirrel monkeys laughed.

*

We were a volley of zeal

and passion

and oh—I was trapped in

the bioluminescence

and magnetic glow of

your eyes—

"This world is magic,"

you'd whisper,

"and we are organic;

let's fall asleep under

this blanket

of star-fireflies."

But oh, silly woman

silly rabbit—

fires don't last in

a tropical rainforest, where

the flora's too wet

to nourish and hand-feed

the flame—

"I love you,

you are—you always will be

mi preciosa,

but you don't belong here,

and we're

you're out of savings;

you must leave now—

go home—

don't stay."

.

snicker-snick howl...

cackle-flick-fade...

.

We burned and we crashed,

we fizzled and dwindled to ghosts

of love's past

all while the squirrel monkeys laughed,

and laughed—

all while the squirrel monkeys laughed

{and the fauna}

consumed our soirée.