Survival of the Fittest

By Carl Laugerbaum | WHIS Faculty

As I sit on the rainforest floor,

green surrounds me and then swallows me

whole. The carpenter ants busily haul

pieces of leaves four times bigger

than themselves up the sweating skin

of the walking palms on the forest floor.

Their roots are constantly in search

of the closest patch of sun.

While new roots creep past the founders

to claim their new rank and begin

providing for the rest of itself.

Months pass as slimy appendages

push and prod for position.

Abrogating old growth at a deliberate

pace, fresh foundations flourish,

and choke out ripened roots.

Burgeoning roots towards

a desired location,

old roots in the back

take a final step toward the sky,

and younger, stronger roots pull

the tree until proxies

obtain suitable sustenance.

Collages by The Waialuan Staff