this merry band of bantering
old sparrows winds through the jungle
spewing jokes gossip wandering
up past the bromeliads
tucked into tree nooks
under a roof of shadows
suddenly a toucan appears
white-throated black tuxed
with a huge orange claw for a beak
that lances the green darkness
the colors shush them
until someone jokes
I have a shirt just like that
but no one laughs
everything so vivid and alive
they only take pictures with their eyes
with cameras limp in hand
trying not to scratch the silence
till it flies off and they’re back
on the trail heads down
not a breeze coming
from any mouth
roped together
in silent wonder