Moments at the Reptile House

All glory to the ever-fleeting now:

    Hibiscus blooming in blood-centered pink,

        Rank ferns and gold acuba in the wake

Of red volcanic rock, geckos on the prow.

    Inside, small children fuss about the stink

        Of lizard piss—all’s ripe for nature’s sake.

In another slice of now, we watch the grand

    Komodo dragon and draw near to link

        Present to future with the pics we take

Of black-eyed, scaly creatures in the sand:

        All now at stake.

Bert Woodall