I anticipated chimpanzees
rhythmically swinging from trees,
belching intimidating grunts;
I anticipated multicolored parrots
swooping over the canopy of trees
as vigorous and refreshing rain massaged our bodies,
keeping us composed
and soon run for shelter
under oversized palm leaves. 

El Yunque was still,
and the sun mocked us
as we hiked.
“No one can know,” he demanded.
“Know what?” I asked.
“You know why you are here.”
His Levis 511 unzipped.
He leaned against a moss-covered tree
with teeny snails climbing the moist bark.
          “You know what to do or you won’t make it back down the mountain.”

We made it back down the mountain.
We stopped for dinner in Luquillo
and ate it on the beach, 
watching kite surfers
until night fall. 
I waited for the food to digest
and for words to come.
I anticipated going home.

Instead, the ocean air continued to disturb.