Predators On The Hunt Poem by Daleen Enslinstrydom

Stars light up the night sky,
through the darkness the full moon shines
like a jack-lantern
as if it was lit from within
and everywhere the night awakes,
the predators are prowling,
sneaking through the bush
to find something to eat.

From the fork of an acacia tree a leopard leaps,
stretches out her body like a lazy housecat,
prepares herself for the hunt
and even from a distance
her eyes are glowing amber.

Everywhere bright glowing eyes are watching
are waiting anxiously for the feast
and some scavengers are near to a carcass
of a animal that was killed by a lioness,
the competition is fierce
a jackal sneaks near,
is chased off by a pack of hyenas
that are jerking and jagging at the carcass
to carry it off as their own.

The overfed lioness roars irritated
as she tries to defend the kill,
but grows tired and gives up the defence of it.

The moon now shines over the waterhole
while most of the nocturnal animals are still awake,
the pack of lions are defending their territory
while a herd of elephant graze peacefully
just as the first signs of dawn colour the horizon

while silhouettes of the antelope are everywhere to be seen
and just before sunrise the predators are lazing around,
are well-fed and some of them are already sleeping.