Poetry
THE LEOPARD
What was that sound in the tree?
Why did the gazelle turn round to flee?
Why is there round here neither beast nor fowl?
A leopard has begun his prowl.
There he will wait in the tree the long day,
Until an antelope strays near ------his prey.
There he will wait most patiently.
Waiting for him is like a fantasy.
written in 1972 when aged nine.
TROPICAL BIRDS
Parrots, lories, macaws, cockatoos,
Birds of Paradise and turacous,
Mynah birds and humming birds.
There are so many tropical birds
Flashes of purple and scarlet breasts,
Orange, yellow and rainbow crests,
Black and white, blue and green,
old and silver in glorious sheen.
Beautiful winged birds flying away,
Tails spread out in courting display,
Of wonderful colours - - cascading down:
All these make the male's gown.
When nesting time comes the most curious homes
Are made in the rocks and crannies and holes,
Of small twigs and leaves woven together,
With other twigs pushed in hither and thither.
1974 - aged 11