Christian The Lion Poem by Stephen Katona

I'm Christian the friendly lion,
And do my best not to frighten.
I was born in a seaside town in Devon,
Where the salty air smelt like heaven.
One day I was taken somewhere new,
Away from Ilfracoombe zoo,
To Harrod's land of toys,
Full of London girls and boys,
Hoping to hear a lion cub roar,
Beside a baby elephant and alligator.
It was in the year 1969,
When Aussies Tony and John heard me whine,
And took me to their flat,
Below a shop called Sophistocat.
My every wish they tried to provide,
Even taking me on day trips to the seaside.
Around their local church I loved to play,
I never made those who attended prey.
Then one day,
The stars of 'Born Free'
Said they could help me,
Move to Kora National Reserve,
For a wild life I did deserve.
My African dream came true,
At the tender age of two,
Thanks to George Adamson,
Who set me free to run.
I became the 'Lion at the World's End',
And proved I would always remember a friend,
One year later when Tony and John came back,
My mind was empty of attack.
So dear they were to my heart,
I could hardly bear to part,
But now I had my own pride,
It was time to venture far and wide.