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. :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Wow...this was almost an epic, my friend :) I really enjoyed the "story" within the poem aspect of this piece. You transported us not only in time, but in space as well, so that we could see, feel, hear, taste, and nearly touch everything that you described. I think you have a great head for storytelling. Bravo.

[Tom]

Thank you Girl Friday, yes I do enjoy telling a good tale even if it was only all a dream !

[Leslie Philibert]

A nice wriite, a narrative that has mock-heroic humour and style, well worked !

[Tom]

Thank you Leslie !

[Dye]

I loved being swept up in this tale. You really captured the essence of a dream as well, with all of the familiar but not so familiar sights, where things are the same but not really. Very witty story Tom!

But what? no Skipper? LOL... I'm kidding-

[Tom]

Thank you Dye, yea I think my canine companion was the skipper on this occasion !

[SyberRose]

Wow what a poem ha...dreaming about the Flintstones ha...how creative Tom...and well crafted...Rose:)

[Tom]

Ah the Flintstones, you made me chuckle Syberose and there are indeed similarities !! Thank you for your favourable comments!

[David Scott]

Never dream on an empty stomach!
I enjoyed the trip back in time. You should send this to EPCOT for a new theme ride.
The meter did feel a little cumbersome to the point that the rhyme did not have a chance to catch hold of me as I read the story. It may need to be read aloud for the best effect.
Anyhow... I enjoyed the story. A fun read.

[Tom]

Thank you David, yea I rushed it a bit to get it on here but I'll tweak it a tad here & there as I go along!

[Angi]

Ha! Bravo, Tom! I love this short story (and not a cricket's chirp was heard!! Ha!) I want some lamb stew, btw. Your ferocious beast deserves a whole bowl, too! Angi~

[Tom]

Thanks Angi, he may be small but he's feisty !

[Rita L. Sev]

Go Fred! This is a great story Tom! I am impressed! :)

[Tom]

Thank you Rita !

[Frieda P]

This is such a charming story Tom even though it's a nightmare...and not an utterance of cricket...ha, you are one story teller and your images had me captivated, really well done my friend, thoroughly enjoyed!

[Tom]

Thank you Frieda P. I even surprised myself with this one !!

[Aethereal]

I enjoyed how you transmogrified the modern into the prehistoric and then back again. Your story flowed flawlessly from beginning to middle to end with impressive rhyme and imagery. This story could be illustrated into a colorful poetic story book. A cartoon animation on U-tube would be a top downloader.

[Tom]

Thank you Aethereal for another detailed and thoughtful review and for ideas worth contemplation indeed!

[Ankit Mahar]

Wow .Great story tom. Thanks for sharing.

[Tom]

You are welcome Ankit the 1st ?