Dripping

*

I stand at the front door
of my friend's home
in the rainforest

while I wait for her
to put on her walking shoes,
and I look around...

I can hear large plops
last night's heavy rain,
falling from the higher palms
on to the understorey below

and the early morning sun
is breaking through the canopy

slashing bands of light across
the Raphis palms

picking out the tea tree trunks

and dancing on the soft tree fern

the stag horn fern
grabs a handful

and all the baby bromeliads
lovingly planted by my friend
in warm and soft palm trunk nests
wave and cheer
the day has begun...

while the bamboo
guards the tennis court
and holds the sun at bay...

the smaller plants
on the forest garden floor
will have to wait

to feel the sun
and share its rays

with the elephant eared palm leaves
and forest ferns

once the spider lily has
had her share

the umbrella grass
has spread and dried

and the giant leaf is done...



*