There once was a robot with a fixed stare
That met a lion on the thoroughfare.
When faced with the real thing
Its poor heart went ‘ting’
As he repeated on a loop, ‘No. Scared.’
Time is a satin lamb against young souls- then burlap lion as we grow old.
I sit on a straight back
red vinyl chair
in a Chinese Take Away
waiting for my beef
and black bean sauce,
pork chow mein and a serving
of special fried rice - hear
from behind a beaded rainbow
coloured curtain the sizzle
and spit of hot oil, the constant
sound of a ladle scraping
the sides of a wok, smell
a symphony of smells
that run a river of saliva
across my wanton tongue -
then silence, seconds
seem like minutes until,
“your order is ready sir”,
and at that moment
all the loveliness
of the world becomes
boxed and cradled
in a Lion Dance labelled
take away carry bag.
Note for American readers.
In Australia we use the term
Take Away instead of Take Out.
Same thing. Not sure of the term
used in the UK or elsewhere.
cat claw marks on a tree
long deep angry looking gouges
a huge animal, possibly a leopard, tiger or lion
I envision this beast sharpening her enormous claws
maybe a velvety black puma with yellow eyes
terrified, my hair stood straight up on end
am I being watched from the shadows?
March Comes In Like A Lion
Dandelion dance
in the palm of my
hand; a gentle
bloom.
I love
my birthday
flower.
Looking through my window
Children playing around with slops
Dogs cats cows... singing in their own right
Trees mingling with the wind songs of praise
Some off to the bush for food,
Who the LION is none of their business
Africa Seems free.
On the streets shouting carrying screaming
Jesus Muhammad...
Working for heaven eden
Back home they cant spare a bean for their Neighbor!
but they speak in tongues....
Africa Seems free.
In class speaking French English Chinese....
speaking in your own right is a crime,
Poles day Pastor Sheik Bishop "vote your own"
Women in different skins long hair
Men in ear rings...
Africa Seems free.
Africa Seems free
while speaking French English Chinese...
while deep in religion of the Occidental and Oriental
while you eating screaming shouting... voting your own!
Are we free?
Are you free?
Are they free?
I was beaten in school
for speaking Themne
my own tongue
a melody they called a wrong note.
I ran to my father for comfort
but he looked away
called me foolish
for not knowing the world had changed.
I knelt beneath the old tree
offering thanks for rain and harvest
they said I was lost
praying to shadows and myths.
I wore my lion skin with pride
feet firm in Crocs-hide sandals
they mocked my walk
said I was wild, uncivilized.
But what truly is civilization?
Is it silencing my mother’s voice?
Replacing gods with shame?
Or disguising erasure as progress?
In a race on the savannah
fleet of foot is the cheetah
at up to 75 mph
no animal can beat her
and with a top speed of 50 mph
lion is the second fastest cat
tho' at
38 mph a leopard can't change its spots
the lion can do that
cubs are born with them and later lose
to become lion spots have-nots
an ostrich third place will land
at up to 43 mph
if it takes its head out of the sand
tho' cheetahs don't have racing stripes zebra do
(Burchell's, mountain and Grévy's)
but they're no boon for at 40 mph
they're only 10 mph ahead of a yellow baboon
however no matter how fast they all run
none can beat the speeding bullet
fired from a hunter's gun
Falling asleep while waiting for you
Trying to keep my eyes open
I don’t know why you didn’t turn up
You said you’d come
I bought a lovely rose for you
Still waiting its past midnight
I’m sober not drunk
I’ll wait for you sweetheart
I’ll be awake
The long flowing white mane
Reminiscent of a satin bridal train
Fierce blue eyes
Watching the plain, a pantherine spy
The king of beasts
The felidae feasts
Daniel's cell mate
Still the beauty of that mane
Flowing white into space
In the background the band plays*
Seducing each estrus lioness
a king's queen's compliance
It's all about the mane
So fly that freak flag
I'm Leo the Lion, I am, I am
From the mystical world of Astrology
I'm generous, strong and warmhearted
That's if you believe in symbology
Not making this up, check it out
Masculine, positive and extroverted
If I listen too carefully, my head will swell
Which should definitely be averted
My wife suggested widening the doorways
Or I might severely injure my brain
Methinks my honey's being a bit facetious
But I love her a bunch just the same
I'm Leo the Lion, I am, I am
Just a fun loving guy who enjoys life
They also say I'm very broad-minded
Love broads but don't tell my wife
When Leonard says “Sh!” the entire library is silent as a church.
The first time I saw this Lion-brarian, my heart gave a wild lurch.
Who is checking out books? I whispered to another 4th grade friend.
The Lion-brarian was next to me, and I thought my life would end.
I said “Sh!” Leonard said, and this time it felt like a threat.
That was six years ago, and I have not been back yet.
Proud lion stood against the wind
Defying it to do its best
The wind recognized the resoluteness of lion
Admiring his strength and bravery
Not the first element to acknowledge the power of lion
Grass-eating animals are their favorite food
Lions don’t eat carnivores, they are not in the mood
When they devour the tasty stomach of their prey
They can stay healthy one more day
The question is,
should I listen to my imagination?
Sometimes it can go very wild,
I look for a lion ready to eat me alive.
There are times it can go romantic,
with hearts and love all over the page.
It has a way of bringing up my old memories,
some happy, maybe sad, or funny as can be.
In Playground of Imagination,
I never know what will show up.
Related Poems