[Newspoetry] Washington, DC

[Jonathan Bolick]

Jungle

 

 

Time creaks slowly back to life

As the cheetahs have been trapped

The jungle creatures move cautiously, 

Quietly, as if becoming unwrapped

 

They move with purpose and detail

As if they are on a mission

These jungle creatures have been in bondage 

For the cheetahs were operating with precision

 

The cheetahs planned, stalked, preyed

For what seem to be forever and away

They killed indiscriminately, cunning

In jungle time, twenty-one plus one day

 

As this innocent jungle thirteen

Went about their daily lives

The cheetahs waited, watched, pounced,

Killed and wounded with only thirteen tries

 

The lions and tigers searched and hunted

Trying to bolster the jungle creature's courage

It seemed hopeless, useless, pointless

We must care for ourselves, they thought, discouraged

 

The lions and tigers pleaded with the cheetahs

You must stop this, let us agree

Help us meet your demands 

Whatever they may be

 

All the while, the jungle creatures

Hear from there and yonder

Your cubs are not safe, anywhere

Anytime, not even with their father

 

Finally, as the hunt expanded

All across the jungle floor

As the lions and tigers had foretold

One of you may have to roar

And roar he did from the jungle 

As he saw the cheetahs in slumber

Wait, stay there, watch over them

These evil creatures we want to outnumber

 

The lions and the tigers trounced the cheetahs

In the early jungle morning

The cheetahs were quite astonished

And relinquished with but warning

 

The cheetahs are captured, held

In the jungle's deepest cave

Kept there until the Lion King and court

Deduce either to kill or enslave

 

Yes, the jungle creatures move freely now

Upon whim and with vigor

Never will they forget, though

Those thirteen, killed or disfigured

 

The jungle creatures ponder in heart

How did we let this take place?

This is not the real question, though

Another time, other creatures, different place?

 

For in the jungle everywhere

There are cheetahs, good and evil

And if ever one takes up the cause

Our innocent jungle creatures will be beyond retrieval

 



(Dedicated to the shooting victims and the people in Washington, DC)
Jonathan Bolick
Lincolnton, NC
E-mail: jbolick at boloworks.com
Web: www.boloworks.com
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