Beware the beast !

It's a jungle out there folks.....be careful !

Shun the tiger, silent and stealth
searching for its quarry,
stay indoors and mind your health
or you'll be very sorry!

Don't dip your toes, in the water cool
where the crocodile patiently waits,
for you will look a silly fool
if swallowed whole, in front of all your mates!

Be watchful of prowling wolf
when walking through a leafy wood,
run away, should you hear its ghastly howl
don't be naive, like little red riding hood!

Heed the hyena's mocking laugh
hungry for meat, red and raw,
let not yourself be chewed in half
by its powerful, bone crushing jaw!

Avoid the snake in the grass
hiding out of sight,
keep on the path, don't trespass
or you'll receive a poisonous bite!

If playing the fine, colonial game
in land of mahout and elephant,
guard against the mosquito's toxic aim
and rebuff it with repellant!

Step over the ant, small and placid
is my solemn decree,
for it is armed with formic acid
just like a million brothers,
from the colony!

And beware the beast, trust the least,
a bloodthirsty creature, known as Man,
no lethal jaws, rasping claws, poisonous bite, nor acidic might..
But he may kill you...just because he Can?

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Wonderful and wise poem! Childrens’ parable and adults’ admonition to recognize hidden dangers and beware. Love the animal verses! Great language, form, flow, cadence and imagery. Last verse is so relevant now-how lethal man is “just because he can”. Important poem and lesson. Thank you Tom.

[Tom]

Yes, sadly still rings true, Man, always the aggressor!

Thank you Annette for stopping by my friend!

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

You are so welcome Tom-a joy to read this!:)

[Sami Khalil]

I love the concept of human nature vs the animals and such. We can indeed rise to the heights of angels or descend down to our cannibalistic nature. Just because we can do it, does not make it right or just. We have to be governed by laws and principles. An excellent one...:)...............

[Tom]

Yes exactly Sami, you hit the nail fair & square on the head and thank you for your perceptive review!

[Sami Khalil]

Always welcome in my book...:)...

[Woody]

excellent idea with the animals, beautifully rhymed. indeed Man can be all that and more though he lacks the jaws and claws and the rest.
I enjoyed the read.

[Tom]

Thanks Woody and yes indeed, mankind is the more precarious of all those jungle beasts/reptiles/insects etc....

[Frieda P]

Yes, man can be the scariest of all at times, more cunning than an animal. Are you trying to frighten the bejaysus out of me Tom? High caliber poetry on fire!

[Tom]

No, no Frieda, just looking out for my dear friend, would miss your lovely visits if anything untoward should happen.....

[Frieda P]

I hear you, I've come across quite a few snakes in my time, and they've all been human....

[Tom]

He, he, I can image, take care & keep well.....it's a jungle out there ..lol

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Tom... Love the rhyme of
elephant and repellant...
Perhaps man should be celebate...
Yes, our world is full of treachery
and we must use caution...
Your poem is amazing and I am
certain that detective "Monk" would
agree with you... "It is a jungle out there".
Truly on Alert... Pat

[Tom]

Thank Pat & yes indeed, Monk himself would surely concur !

[KWP]

What a great rhythmic journey through the jungles and the plains allowing us to remember the viscous ways of nature and then the strange ways of man himself ...

I enjoyed rhymes, i enjoyed the images ... very nice x x

[Tom]

Thank you KWP

[Lydia Shutter]

It is wonderful how you used were able to describe so many human personalities by using the metaphor of animals. Indeed, there are snakes, tigers, hyenas, and many other beasts in our everyday lives. Human nature is such that we must learn to deal with them all...and bait the hook to match the fish so to speak! Man is to be feared, no doubt about it...the events transpiring in our world every day prove that, don't they? To kill just because it is possible to kill....how horrifying, but unfortunately it is the case all too often. Tom, you don't post a new poem often, but when you do it is certainly well worth reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Lydi**

[Tom]

Yes indeed Lydia, as ever you've grasped and understood my poem's ideology so succinctly, warmest thanks again for your welcome visit!

[Dhaye]

Speaking about predators... Yes, one should be careful of those creatures.
Something satirical but true.
Thanks for sharing this.

[Tom]

Thanks Dhaye and correct, they're a dangerous breed !

[Sheila Kline]

Wow! What a wonderful way to reveal the "savage" nature of man. We know the power and ability to kill of the tiger, the danger of the gripping jaws of a crocodile, and the pack organized wolf, and the nature of other creatures you mention to main and destroy, but how often do we think of man as being every bit, or even more dangerous than any of these? Not often enough as we continue to have betrayals, and power hungry war mongers who live among us. We are man, and we are capable of being every bit as dangerous as any living creature!!

Well done my friend with vivid imagery, as well as perfect rhyme and flow!! I like the extra line in the last stanza as it makes a more powerful statement!!

[Tom]

Thank you Sheila, yes, I kept the best ( or the worst ) to the last....