Predator and Prey

PREDATOR AND PREY Group of about eight Dusky-toned hawk-eyed young men Dodged off the main sidewalk : Sprang into storefront Under the overhanging trees Watching intently through the leaves, As downwind gazelles watch motionless Through the foliage for lions. Ready to take flight But preferring to avoid A meeting if possible. A traffic cop had stopped a car For some trivial road offence Many yards ahead of the eight, And his uniform was enough To send unspoken fears Into a dusky-toned heart. He hadn’t seen the eight; But they had seen him. Predator and prey pirouette Around each other Waiting for the other To make a slip.