DOOR magazine hosted its annual Poetry Café on June 5, an open mic event of poems, short stories and micro-fiction. The event was held virtually over Google Meet. Each year Poetry Café revolves around a theme. This year’s theme was suggested by a quote of Mark Plotkin’s – “The rainforests hold answers to questions we have yet to ask.” In a competition hosted by the magazine, students submitted both original written work and artwork inspired by Plotkin’s quote. Sophomore Ann Liu was chosen as winner of the art component, and freshman Aoife Jeffries’ poem “Rainforest Magnificence”.was selected as winner of the writing submissions.

Senior Caroline Winston hosted the on-line event. Other participants read a variety of poems – some self-written, some by published poets – that reflected the rainforest theme as well as current issues such as life in quarantine, and the need for tolerance and understanding.

Reprinted below, is Aoife Jeffries’ winning poem.

 “Rainforest Magnificence”

Aoife Jeffries

 The leopard watches its prey,

 Still and unsuspecting under the trees,

 Poised and ready, but quiet she stays,

 A missed opportunity, for then the prey flees.

 We all make mistakes sometimes.

 High in the canopy, the toucan rests,

 Quietly observing the insects as they flit about,

 After a long day, she is not at her best,

 So she naps before the sunset, no worries, no  doubts.

 We all need a break sometimes.

 A python slithers on the forest floor,

 Returning to her home in the rubber tree,

 She saw footprints and scratches, signs of a boar,

 So she couldn’t sleep, for she was not at ease.

 We all lie awake sometimes.

 A howler monkey squeals and waits,

 Concealed high up in the rainforest leaves,

 He’s trying and failing to find a mate,

 So soon he begins to lose belief.

 We all feel heartache sometimes.

 A baboon leaps down to the muggy earth,

 And finds a leopard, staring him down,

 He knew the leopard saw his tasty worth,

 But he froze and quaked, instead of fleeing around.

 We all fearfully shake sometimes.

 The animals of the rainforest are flawed at best,

 But humans, so are we,

 Faults don’t hinder great success

 And that is something we all must believe.

 We all have imperfections.

 And,

 We are all uniquely magnificent.