Madhuri

We were up in the highlands of Costa Rica
in a buffeting wind
We didn’t know anybody,
and we were sad
The wind shook the house
and shouted at it
and curtains of rain marched
wave on wave
across the highlands
fencing off the view
of the far far sea

We were sad and happy
in our isolation
Banana trees grew like giant ferns
along the flowering trees
at the edge of the yard
Agoutis hopped out
to eat our papaya peels,
scraping out every bit of skooshy orange,
leaving just the thinnest
green shell of rind

The wind punched the house
like a drunkard,
seized us too if we went outside
and down the gravel path
to the road
Hurled us towards the slight traffic
if we didn’t catch hold
of a telephone pole

We were in the highlands
where all the creatures know what to do
in el viento –
such a wind –

We were sad
for we missed
all of you

December 2023, Monteverde, Costa Rica