The Trek

I am a wildebeest,

My habitat-

The plains of Africa - East

Praise the Lord, Oh! Praise,

Plenty of juicy grasses to graze.

It is indeed paradise on earth

For what it is worth,

Had it not been

For the nuisance

Of a few nefarious carnivores

That prey on the weak and newly born.

However, some years back

Draught poleaxed the place so hard

Beyond it can take.

And I, Likewise, was unable to cope with the drought

And moved further up north,

Where plenty of green grasses and icy water

I could find, I thought.

Where I came to rest was close to North Pole

Only to be compelled to share a shelter

With a white-fur bear,

The size of a dinosaur.

The trouble I fear: Being a dear

Living with the bear,

Is inviting oneself to a mortal danger.

Already I have lost a few ribs,

If only the rest I could keep.

However, I am still scared to death,

Of what might happen next,

When the nearby river freezes,

And the easy picking of fish ceases.

Please, appreciate my fear

The male bear,

Shades no tear-

When it devours

His own progenies - the little dear.

This is a unique behaviour.

Although I am aware,

Back home a covetous male loin does it,

When it is jealously possessed

By a female power,

And wants to eliminate the trait

Of female X-partner which is now deposed.

Further more

The bear

Had been known

Trespassing outlying borders

When gripped with hunger

To claim the lives of others,

At the spare

Of changing the colours

Of its skin and fur.

Copyright Haileselassie Giramy

Draft 28/1/98

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