Donate Poetry

Wild life for life

Vast, adventurous, a site to behold,

From the savannahs rooting acres of soil,

To the animals, large and small,

Harbouring the lands.

Thousands wash in from far and near

Eager to the wonders gazetted for their eyes

Vacations, honeymoons, love for adventure

Every reason gathers us to appreciate nature’s gifts.

 

Claws, talons, paws and fangs

The predators we watch as the tour guide instructs

Tigers stretch their massive statures,

A rhythm of orange and black to our pleasure.

The lions segregated from the rest,

Stand with pride over their territory,

Casting dominance over the weak,

Soon to be prey when hunger strikes the clock.

 

Quiet or you’ll miss it, the tour guide urges,

As we approach the delicate zebras,

Gracefully feeding by the antelopes’ herd,

Careful to make them unaware of our presence.

Close by the lake opens wide

Two predatory eyes peering through

Glides its belly out across the gravel

So quiet and swift only the winds cross our ears.

 

The crocodile attacks one of the secluded

Black and white, blinded by its food

The audience moans in worry, pity and shock

Children cry and mothers weep

We must leave though I yearn to see more.

 

The flora and fauna grows the further we go

Though we learn it’s smaller than the eye’s meet

Poaching, bushfires, the hazards endless,

The man we call friend, brother, causes all this.

My heart is torn from the extinction we threaten,

After the beauty I’ve seen,

I must fight to keep it safe.