Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Brazil 2011

Sketches of the Jungle--Prose and Poetry

Five days in the jungle, experiencing the forest, the heat, the humidity, the sounds from everywhere; we walked, we climbed, we sweated, we stood. We relaxed on the river; the sparkle in our eyes, the cool air, the little thrill of baby rapids, and the surprise at the edge of the forest, the silhouettes of macaws and toucans crossing the river, otters diving amongst the roots on the river bank, primates in the high tree tops, and curassows on the shore.

Our airy, screened bungalow featured an outdoor shower with cool water, an indoor shower with lots of hot water, a hammock on the porch and a fan to stir the air.  Just before napping, my eyes are drawn to butterflies on the outside of the screen, the breeze ruffling the tree tops - always the possibility of...something. Lulled and tired, I fall asleep.

Prose seems too prosaic a way to describe it all.

Cristalino Lunes

Tropical alarm clocks

Howlers boom in the morning

we are here

Early morning river
chilly mist rising, curling, wreathing
soon burned off

A yellow patch
rising from the shore
in a cloud

Sulphur butterflies Pierids
puddling in the damp sand
essential vitamins minerals

Morphos-tongues out

wings flicking brown to blue

on monkey shit

Neotropical river otter
eating fish from the river
glances at us

Herd of larvae
setae waving they sweep around
one following t'other

Lizard nose down

matched to the tree bole

alert to danger

Songs on high
birds flit in the canopy
almost impossible



A pattern original
the military copies the splatter
easy for trees

In the west

light slants from the sun

creating long shadows

Into the canopy

up and up and up again

visiting the birds

High foliage shaking
Capuchins, Spider monkeys, Howlers brachiate
at home high

 

In the tangle

long legs, sharp beak poised

Sunbittern to strike








                                   Red-tailed boa
                                   stretched out a limb motionless

                                   almost as one

Dark forms fly

Birds cross the river silhouetted

outlined shapes distinctive

Late afternoon fatigue

relaxing feet up on gunnel

beer in hand

Doing the list
what did we see today?

perfect complement-Caipirinha

A healthy jungle
open, leafy, shady, tall, diverse
alive and living

Good food, beer, birds, endless possibilities for surprise--what more could you ask?

Cristalino Jungle Lodge is reached via the city of Alta Floresta in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. There are daily flights from Cuiaba, the state capital, to Alta Floresta. The lodge is only accessible by boat. After the arrival in Alta Floresta, there is a 1/2 hour boat ride.