POEM :
“LIONESS WATCHES LEOPARD EAT HER CUB…”
Lion watching Leopard eating her baby
https://youtu.be/Du9sy6XMxFY?t=121
Lion Catches Leopard Cub While Mother Watches Helplessly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JplcS7u3TYY&pp=ygU5bGlvbmVzcyBvbiB0aGUgZ3JvdW5kIHdhdGNoZXMgbGVvcGFyZCBlYXQgaGVyIGN1YiBvbiB0cmVl
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POEM :
“LIONESS WATCHES LEOPARD EAT HER CUB…”
1st section
The lioness walk’d slowly back home,
Tir’d and hungry, but still with resolve.
The hunt was fruitless :
How to feed the babies now ?...
2nd
Reaching home, the lioness listen’d
For small noises from the babies…
Lo ! Suddenly the spot was empty !
Where had baby gone off to ?!...
3rd
These kids are impossible :
They know they have to stay put,
But they keep wand’ring away :
They keep walking in any direction…
4th
Her heart beating louder,
Mother lion scout’d around :
What a shock ! The traitor leopard
Up in the tree sat, with murderous eyes !...
5th
The cub’s legs hanging lifelessly :
In the branches the poor kid met death !
What a death ! Such deaths are meant for preys,
Not for the babies of lionesses !...
6th
Even the entrails of the kid had gone :
The pitiless leopard’s eyes gleam’d,
In vertical slits they appear’d,
Gloating over the bloody meal…
7th
Looking with a challenge
At the lioness on the ground,
The leopard lick’d at the cub’s blood :
Like it was the “gravy” that went with the meat !...
8th
The leopard knew too well
Where its battlefield lay :
‘Twas up in the branches,
Where the lions cannot climb…
9th
The leopard chose the battlefield :
A fighting ground way too far
Even for the mightier lioness :
From up in the tree the predator gaz’d down…
10th
What an experience for any mother :
Watching her own kid being ripp’d apart
Pitilessly, in a gruesome murder :
Lions, too, hunt : but this sight was far too much…
11th
A mother compell’d to watch her baby devour’d :
For months she had toil’d, she had labour’d :
Carrying the kids safely inside :
Now, having to watch the cruellest murder…
12th
The entrails had gone :
The legs dangl’d, lifeless :
A short life it had been :
What a destiny for animal kids…
13th
The lioness herself would do the same :
To her preys she show’d no mercy :
But, suddenly at the receiving end to be :
‘Twas a shock no mother could bear…
14th
Leopard, watch thy back night and day :
Beware of a blist’ring charge from the bush :
No place for thee be now safe :
Thou be dead leopard walking…
15th
Doth thou hear ?! Eat thy fill :
Get thee prepar’d for the kill :
Thy turn wilt come, murderer :
Thou wilt thyself turn to dinner !...
16th
‘Pon the body of my kid I swear :
From high above doth thou hear ?...
Thou gave death in the branches :
Thou wilt meet thy demise in the plain !...
17th
Dead leopard walking,
Dead leopard cadaver licking,
Dead leopard gore drinking :
Beware the wrath of a lioness !...
18th
Thy days be number’d, dead leopard :
For ever thou canst stay in the branches :
Where wilt thou get water to drink ?
Keep watching thy back every moment !...
19th
My eyes will I keep on thee :
Thou may run, thou may not hide :
Thou lick’d at my kid’s skin :
Be number’d the days of thy kin…
20th
Thou may run but thou may not hide :
Even in the branches be thou not safe :
We lions ne’er forget, ne’er forgive :
Watch thy back night and day…
21st
A bloody, sorry fate awaits thee
And thy family : make no mistake :
Thou wilt pay the ultimate price :
Thou should have thought about this thrice…
22nd
Dead leopard walking,
Dead leopard climbing,
Dead leopard running :
Thy days be number’d !...
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Soman Ragavan
28 March, 2026
Mauritius (Indian Ocean)
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