A Prehistoric Nightmare !

Definitely nothing to do with cricket !

With the day’s work complete, I arrived  home and relaxed by the fire

the children were playing contently, still dressed in school day attire,

my wife in the kitchen next door, cooking something that smelt rather good

so to keep us all nice and warm, I stoked up the flames and threw on more wood!

 

As I sat in a favourite armchair, all my worries ebbed soothingly away

and a calmness befell that often descends at the end of the day,

reassured to have brought home the bacon, perhaps a link from an ancestral gene

so with Fido our family dog asleep by my feet, I closed my eyes and began to dream!

 

Now peacefully sitting outdoors, neath the light of a much younger moon

a wild boar roasted above a raging campfire, I'd slewed earlier that afternoon

and a bear skin clad woman before me, attentively carved meat from it's bone

with what looked like the jagged edge, of a sharply serrated, flint stone!

 

I too wrapped in thick animal pelt, with a matching thick beard, hanging down

nearby two similarly dressed children, were throwing toy spears into the ground,

the wafting aroma of that wild cooking meat, created a most soporific embrace

and I stretched out strong neanderthal limbs, as a feeling of serenity fell over this place!

 

I gazed licentiously at my Venus in furs, preparing  this lavish feast

oblivious to the ominous presence, of a huge carnivorous beast

then suddenly with a menacing roar, it bounded out from the shadows black

and instinctively I thought of my family and how to ward off this vicious attack!

 

Quickly I harried them into a cave, then turned to face this nemesis grotesque

and with a blood curdling roar it pounced, as I stood fear-stricken and statuesque,

as dagger like fangs and gnarling sharp claws were about to tear me apart,

a wolf like companion leapt up from the fireside, to form a resilient rampart!

 

As a ferocious battle ensued, I grabbed my spear and cowed behind the raging fire, 

sensing this bloody, bitter encounter, would end in consequences, fatally dire

and despite my loyal canine defender's noble and valiant conquest,

his vitality began to wane, as the life blood pumped from a wound in his breast! 

 

And as the razor like claws ripped through his blood soaked matted fur

in one timeless second I ran my spear, straight through this monstrous saboteur,

and with a guttural roar it fell prostrate and dead, on top of the leafy ground,

then I knelt to comfort my gallant protector, and a neanderthal tear fell onto his beloved hound!

Suddenly I awoke with a start, it had all just been a dreadful nightmare,

such relief to be back home, sitting within my comfy armchair

and when my wife served our evening meal, a casserole of succulent pork meat,

I reached down to the floor and gave Fido a tasty big slice to eat!

Reviews

[AYVID N]

Oh, this so sad, such a touching and memorable narrative. Tom, you have such a heart warming style of writing. It was also a very reflective and educative writing and a great comment on how we have evolved and the basis of our actions and reactions.

My most favorite is the cozy, restive and warm picture created in the first two verses. Applause!

[Tom]

Thank you again Divya, I thought you might enjoy this one, after I read your brilliant poem about the tiger !

[AYVID N]

You are welcome Tom, it was a truly enjoyable read. :)

[Tom Rouse]

I enjoy your concise grasp of the language and the ease at which you can craft a poetic story. Another good one!

[Tom]

Thank you again Tom !

[gabrielle]

You have extraordinary way of weaving story Tom. This is long but the exceptional rhyme scene makes it engaging to read from beginning to end. Wonderful!

[Tom]

Thank you gabrielle, I do enjoy telling the odd yarn or two !

[Angel]

OH....I love this!!!!
You just got my Raggedy Andy an extra helping of supper tonight, my friend!

[Tom]

And glad I am to hear that Angel, you just never know the minute !

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

Nice one. I love the verses describing a wonderful scene of a happy family- a thoughtful wife preparing the food, and the kids playing while still in their uniform...Ah, such a happy picture of a family.
Dreams, as they say, has something to do with reality...the last thing we thought, done, felt, saw and heard can bring us to a good dream or a nightmare.

Another beautiful craft, Tom. So interesting! I've fun reading it.

[Tom]

Thanks dhaye, yea dreams can indeed conjure up the strangest scenarios !

[Jack...]

This was great Tom. Truly a wonderful story within this poem. I actually became lost in your dream world as I read today. And even though I knew it was a dream, I forgot all about that as it engulfed me with its rhyming realism. Very nicely done.

[Tom]

Thank you Jack for your constructive and positive comments !

[Robbie~xoxo~]

What a wonderful Storyteller you are Tom! You kept me on the edge of my seat! lol
The end was a nice way to bring the heart beat down to a normal pace... ending in the comfort of your home in your comfy chair with nice meal prepared by your sweet wife...(gotta love your "wee dog" too) lol... now that's a relief....

Nicely penned!!~xoxo~:)

[Tom]

Thank you Dr Robbie aka Sex therapist ! And my congratulations on your newly acquired and most renowned position!

[Robbie~xoxo~]

LOL You are welcomed, my sweet friend!...I enjoyed reading this piece. :)
P.S. I'm glad of service...Therapy is a good thing...I'm studying the art of sexual behavior at this very moment... lol ;)

[Robbie~xoxo~]

*glad to be of service* Therapy is a good thing. ;D

[Tom]

No doubting that Dr Robbie !

[Robbie~xoxo~]

(he he) ;D

[TL Boehm]

the wee dog has come such a long way from that first wild beast that humbled itself to protect our heavy browed ancestors don't you think? Cracked up at "Venus in fur" - your sense of humor coupled with your impressive vocab is delightful. Well done!

[Tom]

Thank you TL, I always like to include a bit of craic in my poems !

[MsJewel]

You are a master storyteller my friend with the ability to draw the reader into the story. It's always a pleasure to read your poetry,

:) Julie

[Tom]

Thank you Julie & always nice to see you stopping by !

[Joyce S. Greene]

I guess that's how dogs first earned their proud reputation of man's protector and best friend, Tom. I enjoyed reading your story very much and was glad that your hero lived to dream again (though his poor canine friend did not fare so well in the dream, but did very well once his owner woke up!)

[Tom]

Thank you Joyce, yes the wee fella did well out of the who;e awful nightmare, even though he slept all through it !