Jungle Prey
J. Dean
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2010 J. Dean
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I don’t know if I’ll make it.
It’s thirty-two steps across the asphalt river, and the current is thick, fast, and honking with anger at me and the others, blissfully ignorant.
But ignorance is no excuse, and neither is fatigue.
Neither is fear.
**
I pause, thankful for the relief given by the shadow of the iron trunk, branching off with red, green, and yellow leaves
So far, it hasn’t caught me, the vile beast. But soon it will
It must, it has to, so that the yawning iron jaws may be satistifed with guilty pleasure.
And it has seen me.
**
Air escapes me
Always one step ahead, as distant from me as I am from the beast
Slipping through my closing teeth, forcing me onward, to chase while being chased
Somewhere behind, midnight blue skin and steel fire stalk me, searching with eyes that show me myself, fear-filled and flight-fatigued
**
Passing by me are others
With bewildered sneers and puzzled frowns they cast me down, as if I were a monster.
How little they know, what comfort they know through knowing nothing
The beast slithers among them in order to consume me
For I alone am the threat; I know too much through forbidden fruit, and have awakened a hunger
**
The current has slowed, the chance will come
Behind me, a glint of silver and sliver of blue rustles among waving, swaying throngs
Off the concrete beach I must step, and step lightly, holding tight to the faded green fruit, to wade across to the shore of populated island
Through a door within the cleft of a granite and glass rock I must run, to flee, to survive
**
I don’t know if I’ll make it
Dear Reader,
I want to thank you for taking the time to enjoy my poem, and hope that you had as much fun reading it as I did writing it. This poem will be included as part of a future short story collection, which will be distributed on digital text in the next few months. If you liked it, please feel free to give it a review, as well as letting me know what you thought by leaving me a comment on My author blog or personal Email at jaiello@admin.clio.k12.mi.us . I appreciate your feedback and also invite you to check out the first novel of my epic series, The Summoning of Clade Josso, and my short story Fraidy-Cat,also available on Smashwords.
Sincerely,
J. Dean
About the Author
J. Dean is the author of the Vein project, his first serious venture into the realm of professional writing. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he teaches foreign language in public school and also gives private tutoring sessions, but is hoping that the Vein project will serve as a springboard for becoming a full-time writer. Mr. Dean plays bass guitar and co-writes music for the progressive rock band Episodic, and enjoys other hobbies such as target shooting, martial arts, and cuisine experimentation in the kitchen. He and his wife have two children and live in Michigan.