A poem dedicated to Cecil…an icon of Hwange
Cecil the lion in Hwange, Zimbabwe. © Bryan Orford/YouTube –
The drum roll of Africa…a mighty heartbeat within his chest
Zimbabwe’s icon….Zimbabwe’s best
As shadows crawl….drowsy with the midday heat
Matabele ants marching to a random beat
Cecil’s vibrant rich scent wafts on the cool breeze
Sunshine slips softly through the canopy of trees
Poetry in motion….this magnificent beast
Tawny pelt rippling…..a visual treat
The brisk air trembles with his deep- throated call
Cecil’s powerful stance….so proud and so tall
Flowing black mane like a halo around his head
His harem of sleek females keep him well fed
Padding softly through the crisp winter grass
Under a wide open sky as clear as glass
His silent footfalls marking the golden sand
Passionate and dignified…. King of this timeless land
Dark shadows of greed hound him
Destructive and tragic
Cecil, a heart beat no longer ….to weave his magic
The peace of death carries his soul
His broken body….no longer whole
A deathly quiet lingers….in a world going insane
On nature’s grand stage….such immeasurable pain
In an explosion of gold…the sun bids him goodnight
Rest In Peace Cecil…we will continue to fight.
