Backward Glance Poem by Denis Martindale

Two meerkats stood amazed, aghast,
For there above them flew
A wondrous bird that was so fast
They knew not what to do!
Survival instincts kept them close,
So back-to-back they stood,
Clenched jaws, clenched backs, clenched claws and toes,
Although this did no good!

That bird flew over once again,
It simply was a blur,
Its shadow disappeared and then
The meerkats chose to stir...
They warned the rest who scarpered off
Till every one was safe,
But those two meerkats had to cough,
You see, they weren't that brave!

The bird had flown to who knows where,
Yet never to return,
But every day those meerkats stare,
On guard not to adjourn...
From truth the adults never strayed,
'You should have seen its wings! '
Young meerkats giggled unafraid,
'Old fogies seeing things! '