When I have time to share my poems with my students, they are generally supportive, almost always polite. But sometimes they give me a look that says, "The hell?" I laughed out loud after reading this one to them. The looks on their faces were priceless.

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Terrified

As you walk through the
black and white jungle
you are confident.
Spear in hand,
animal skins tied around your waist
reveal your muscled legs, chest and arms.
As the camera pans up to your head
the audience is surprised by a wooden mask --
terrifying
long teeth, wide eyes, flared nose.

You walk through the familiarity and comfort of
your jungle.
Birds and monkeys squawk.
But you are at ease, at home.
The beating drums soothe you.
As you move, you slow,
the drums crescendo and
suddenly stop
as do the jungle creatures.
You slowly turn and the camera follows your gaze.

You see an animal new to you in your jungle.
It's grayness blends with the grayness of its surroundings.
Two large eyes seem to
stare right through you.
You freeze
waiting for the beast to make the first move.
It doesn't.
It's smooth hide shines in the morning sun.
You side step.
Perhaps it doesn't see you.

You will sneak around and
kill it from behind.
The wind blows,
you smell it now.
Its hot dirty acrid scent burns your nose.
It sits low to the ground.
As you creep forward
the beast is still,
it's strange tail held stiff and off center.
Closer, closer.

With a snarl you leap
spear-first at its flank.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
Your spear tip pokes at the jeep's back fender.
The audience laughs as the camera moves in close.
I see your eyes behind your mask.
Terrified.
I laugh too as my heels
push my mask a bit further
under my seat.