COLUMBUS

garden of earthly delights
beneath the forest canopy
luxuriant branches extend
waterfalls disgorge their liquid silver
gurgling into rocky pools
birds of paradise strut
spreading their wings in display
toucans call
monkeys shriek
sloths hang lazily
a sharp-tongued snake uncoils and slips away into the undergrowth
the royal jaguar prowls
insects gorge on the orange flesh of strange-shaped fruit
on the forest floor
vegetation gently decays into the fertile earth of the goddess gaia
at the bottom of the food chain
tiny earthworms digest
smiling bright-eyed natives rush to greet the curious pale-skinned men
as they approach the village huts
was it thus when europeans first encountered 'india'?