Within the Swamp

Humidity hangs over,
like a blanket,
seeping up from the murky water
carving a lazy path
through rotting piles of mud
and tangled roots.
Only a few venture here,
where the logs have teeth
when they lift their pointed,
scaly heads
from the green,
scum-covered placid water,
and serpents
lurk beneath
or hang from the trees,
like the loops of moss
dangling from the crooked branches.
Yet beauty can be found here,
amidst the curtain of mosquitos.
A family of ducks,
mother duck leading the way
through the serene water
followed by her fat
brown ducklings.
Or the majesty of a great tree,
fallen now,
but it's stump rises up from the water,
like fingers from the depths,
like a throne,
or a great mountain,
covered in silky green.
Or the rainfall of green leaves,
scattering over the water,
to create a sea of spiky jewels.
Or the fat, lily pads
with their garden of flowers
and green, croaking gardeners,
and the dancing dragonflies
play their games.


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Subject or Theme: Desert, Jungle, Mountains, Plains, etc, (describe or tell a story about some natural terrain)
Word(s) to Include: Lurk, rot
Forbidden Word(s): (none)
Additional Parameters: Minimum 28 lines.