I impressed brothers and sisters slithering
over a foam topper pad like a lizard,
flaying arms and legs like St. Andrew’s cross,
fingers and toes pegged to pillows
after tossing blankets, pup tenting sheets
and mimicking jungle safaris sounds
from tropical bird songs to rainforest monkey cries,
ambience intermixed with open window echoes
cascading waterfalls and flirtatious cricket chirps
then our innocent eyes glanced straight above
gave one another “the dare,” and without a word
we jumped on mattresses attempting to touch
stucco ceilings but broke far more box springs
than reaching the upper limits of our quest.
