In The Tropics (Habarana) Poem by Sheena Blackhall

Left of the blue pool, the slat-bridge walkway
Turtles rise in the lake like chocolate bubbles
Bug-eyed froglets parp,
Green knobs on flap jack lilies

A chipmunk two tables along
Dines off German pastry
Elegant under a beautiful rose wood chair
Not for him the village dust beside the tin-shed shop
He’s tasted affluence and come to like it.

Ants have sent out scouts to fetch supplies
Mosquitoes kamikazi into a swat
Killed at their moment of ecstasy, snuffed out to a red streak
Maitre d’hote, a crow on the balcony
In full evening dress
Bows approvingly over the hot tureen.
Left of the blue pool, a monitor lizard
Is monitoring the proceedings. His pop-out tongue
Like toast from a black toaster