Classic Poem

That day it rained, and the day following fell
Wet and meshed the swamp in webs that glittered
Like a silver pestilence; then a bird twittered,
The tones reverberating like a bell
Of water weaving into a sunken well;
A wind blew; and the blood of an embittered
Twilight streaked the west; a ringtail tittered —
And suddenly the jungle loosed a yell!

The guttural chaffering of the chimpanzees
Shrilled to falsetto and broke off, darkly voweled,
As the howlers beat their barrel chests; the trees
Rocked rain; the jungle roared back disemboweled
Of sound; the moon dripped gold from golden jars;
The night sprang like a black ape at the stars!