The Bird Enchanter

A poem about an enchanter in the tropical forest.

The Bird Enchanter

 The man dressed in pineapple fibres

Slept in a hut raised above the ground

On four wooden pillars 

And meranti-leaves on the roof could be found.

He awoke at the hooting of the baby apes

And the bearded father pongo,

With an epic symphony of bugs

Where the gentle breeze at them tugs.

The man stretched like a dark striped tiger

Ready for the new day

Cut a large jackfruit

Peeled and ate the lush buttery juice.

He set a civet cat loose

He had borrowed to drop coffee cherries

And the man roasted then boiled

To make earthy smooth Kopi luwak.

Entering the boat of Myanmar reeds bound

The other side of the river the village he found

Besides campfire Gamelan men played

Gong music for the bathing women made.

In gold leaf dress clad

Adult men and a amateur lad

The band to the Ancient Gods played

Series of waves of sounds.

Refreshing coconut with cucumber and sugar he drank

The workers not around to thank 

Farewell to the band he bade

Headed for the thick jungle.

Past some elephants

The new creek he checked

For the palmtree plantation

And saw it was to great effect.

 

Strange sounds he heard

Not from a waterfall's gush

So through a jungle he trekked

And upon a shock stumbled.

Below him a man oh so pale

Carrying cages of birds male and female

So when gone downwards tumbled

To see the winged captives all but gone.

Teary eyed the area he left

And when far his lips he pursed

And whistled a tune

High pitched again and again.

Behold birds of paradise!

The Sumatran Laughing Thrush

As mosquitoes biting on full moon

Flying to the bird enchanter

Hypnotised by his vices

From the pale man saved.