Androcles And The Lion Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

ANDROCLES AND THE LION
Every verse acts as shell for fair moral, a skel -
eton which we expand when councilling,
wanton worries dispel, (we can scan well and spell) ,
through transcendent end line linking illing!

Lordly lion’s large jaws are unused, like his paws,
'til his lady striped zebra’s sent spilling,
then he rages and roars, rips raw prey with sharp claws,
but it's mostly to show flesh is willing.

In the main, mighty mane and earthshaking refrain
give the lie - ‘spite his timbre so thrilling,
for with pride by his side he can set pride aside,
letting others continue the killing.

Every night by lush well loud flush larynx will swell,
while at jungle rill thirstily swilling,
yet all know very well ‘tis to show lioncel
how to act, an example instilling.

One should prowl nightly, bell, howl with high decibel,
or else growl, which is simply spine-chilling,
while by day to keep well one should sleep for a spell,
as hot tropical sun is too grilling.

So we feel all should find feline father is kind,
especially when cubs are a-milling,
though stay out of the sight of his mate or she might
take a fancy to you for her filling!

There’s a story some tell, (here in verse we excel) ,
truth from falsehood intent on distilling,
of a slave, Androcel, and a snell lioncel,
those retracting the facts are cavilling.

Yellow leo once dwelt in a duned desert dell,
often hunted from den to treed hilling,
till with bellowing yell on sharp ratchel once fell,
deep wound sent harp tuned voice a-shrilling!

From fore-pad Androcel pulled sore spill, soothing swell,
using prehistoric penicillin,
feral fears swiftly quelled, they as friends said farewell,
thus Destiny’s wishes fulfilling!

Between Mount El Carmel and the vill of Bethel,
where years later his travels were willing,
on his way it befell footpads armed with cudgel
ambushed him in the midst of their pilling!

In the old citadel, powerless to rebel,
he was sold as a slave for a shilling,
vain resistance to quell, for free, bold, chains repel,
impelled him into ‘ring’ for a grilling.

He was cramped in damp cell near ramped ‘rena roundel,
where dread carnivores daily were drilling,
there rough romans compelled him, ret, short-sword as well -
hope he'd no intention of stilling!

When it came to his turn he was thankful to learn
that the beast there that held the star billing
was the one once infirm, thus thereafter he'd earn
laurel leaves from the Praetor, Virgilling!

Androcles' doubts dispelled, death decree soon refelled
on papyrus scribe skillfully quilling,
cancelling tocsin knell, toxin soujourn in hell,
echoed sounds of carousing, refilling.

People praised the marvel - ‘twas before chimed church bell -
or they’d soon have been cheerf’lly carilling,
everyone would revel with sweet simnel, sardele,
to timbrel’s touch gaily quadrilling.

Here apt moral we rend, which from start until end,
in its heart says all men should be willing
to be civil to friend, mend each ill, make amend,
then existence will be just idylling!

1 January 1978 revised 12 December 2010

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Androcles and the Lion


Every verse is a shell for a moral, a skel -
eton which we expand when councilling,
wanton worries dispel (we can scan well, and spell) -
though forgive all the elling and illing!

Lordly lion’s large jaws are unused, like his paws,
til his lady striped zebra’s sent spilling,
then he rages and roars, rips the prey with sharp claws, -
but its mostly to show he is willing!

In the main, though, his mane and his booming refrain,
give the lie - ‘spite his timbre so thrilling,
for with pride by his side he can set pride aside,
and let others get on with the killing!

Every night at the well loud his larynx will swell,
while at jungle rill thirstily swilling,
yet you know very well ‘tis to show lioncel
how to act, an example instilling.

One should prowl nightly, bell howl with high decibel,
or else growl, which is simply spine-chilling,
while by day to keep well one should sleep for a spell,
as the tropical sun is too grilling!

So I feel you will find feline father is kind,
especially when cubs are a-milling,
though stay out of the sight of his mate or she might
take a fancy to you for her filling!

There’s a story some tell, (here in verse we excel) ,
truth from falsehood intent on distilling,
of a slave, Androcel, and a snell lioncel,
if you question my facts, you’re cavilling!

Yellow leo did dwell in a duned desert dell,
often went from his den to the hilling,
‘till with bellowing yell on a ratchel once fell,
and the wound sent his tuned voice a-shrilling!

From his pad Androcel pulled the spill, soothed the swell,
using prehistoric penicillin,
feral fears did he quell, they as friends said farewell,
thus destiny’s wishes fulfilling!

Between Mount El Carmel and the vill of Bethel,
where years later his travels were willing,
on his way it befell footpads armed with cudgel
ambushed him in the midst of their pilling!

In the old citadel, powerless to rebel,
he was sold as a slave for a shilling,
vain resistance to quell, - for free, bold, chains repel, -
impelled him to the ‘ring ’ for a grilling.

He was cramped in damp cell near ramped ‘rena roundel,
where the carnivores daily were drilling,
there did roman compel him, ret, short-sword as well, -
though hope he’d no intention of stilling!

When it came to his turn he was thankful to learn
that the beast there that held the star billing
was the one once infirm, and thereafter did earn
laurel leaves from the Praetor, Virgilling!

He his doubts did dispel, death decree did refel,
on papyrus scribe skillfully quilling,
so instead of a knell, and a journey to hell,
rose the sounds of carousing, refilling.

People praise the marvel, - ‘twas before chimed church bell -
or they’d soon have been cheerf’lly carilling,
every one did revel with sweet simnel, sardele,
to timbrel’s touch gaily quadrilling.

Here the moral we rend, which from start until end,
in its heart says all men should be willing
to be civil to friend, mend his smart, make amend,
then existence will be just idylling!