I dream leopard eyes, slow grace of the spotted cat stretched out, bushbuck twisting in thicket, last gurgle of ripped throat. Nearby, Australopithecus slumbers in fossils, nestled between alluvial sheets. We learned to kill in this place, honed that talent saber- sharp, long after craving for food. Soon, cheetah will be gone, flying bone and gristle arcing across Serengeti, etched on film. Nothing but wild dogs left for great white hunter's bullet.
Mouth runs dry.
Listen to the clap-clap of mountain gorillas beating themselves on the chest. This is how they reveal their presence, a few small family units clinging to life. This clap-clap of gorillas is a choir of drums echoing to the crater's rim, trapped in our ear, thrumming their requiem at our wake. If consciousness was assigned to each animal soul, no father or mother would choose to awaken to Noah's nightmare. Rooted firmly, deeply In the earth Strong, mighty supports For these silent, sometimes gigantic Witnesses of ages past with Many arms branching out, extended Aloft toward the sky Welcoming Sunrise.