It grew tightly knit and tangled,
branches and leaves and woody vines
creating living cobwebs
Walling those within
and those without

A sturdy blade
Spilled sticky sap
and lush leaves scattered
Crushed underfoot

The wind waited
Impatiently holding her breath
while human exhaustion became
a slow and salty rain

Coaxed with violence
cut and pulled and heaved apart
the jungle let her bleeding fingers open

Her smile was wide
Teeth glinting in the mouths of snakes
and hungry cats

Her laughter puffed around them
Swirling breath with clouds of stinging venom
and creeping infections

Her fingers closed again
branches and leaves and flowering vines
creating lovely spiderwebs
Trapping those within
inviting those without