All Smiles, a poem by Tanasha Martin
![All Smiles, a poem by Tanasha Martin](https://human.writingjourney.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Tennel_Cheshire_proof.png)
Through the dark swirl of bridges
Each one a cyclone,
Initial exploration,
We boldly walk alone.
Up ahead, a new dimension,
Bright light at the end;
Try to predict all the outcomes
We never could comprehend.
Crossed hundreds of doorways,
Encountered inhabitants in other worlds.
We’ve come as prepared as we can to
Protect ourselves if chaos unfurls.
Just as a light jasmine wind blows
Calmly through our hair,
We cross the threshold of another Earth
A tune floats on the air.
The ground, soft from the rain is
Lush, greenery surround.
Animals here are, as yet, unseen,
We listen closely for their sound.
Music volume increases as
We observe through the trees,
Little time to document,
Humans, the obvious species.
Of villages in the jungle,
Typical lifestyle and acts,
We see no overt threats here, so
We begin to relax.
Embraces, nods exchanged
Among them set the stage;
Weapons set aside, finally satisfied,
We’re ready to engage.
We step into the courtyard
More assured than before.
Friendly, open display of hands,
Perhaps no uproar?
The leader steps ever closer,
Our language understood.
He scans my eyes, my body, my face
For the possible falsehood.
In an effort to reassure him,
I flash my pearly whites.
He peels his lips and snarls at us,
Spinal chill, decide: fight or flight?
Razor sharp incisors,
Growls deep within his chest.
Pounce-ready and gathering,
We’re the prey, the dinner guest.
Shapes appear, stalk ever closer,
Flight, our only choice.
Flanking groups, body language clear,
Howl, united voice.
Feet rooted, pulled free, we
Run back through the wood.
Survival an impossible dream —
What we should have understood.
Sweat pours down our backs as it
Never has before.
Footsteps thunder, there’s no escape;
Precious lives beyond the corridor.
We exchange resigned glances,
Lock the door; no hope of rescue.
We brace ourselves to be the sacrifice
So they can never cross through.
Copyright © 2016 by Tanasha Martin
Image is in the Public Domain.
- All Smiles, a poem by Tanasha Martin - September 17, 2016
- Personal Bubble, a poem by Tanasha Martin - September 17, 2016
- Touched, by Tanasha Martin - September 17, 2016
Tanasha’s writing is fresh and poignant. I can’t wait to read the next three.