Lion's Fears. Poem by RAVIKIRAN ARAKKAL

Times have changed,
No more the king of forest,
Always hunted
He runs around in fear,
Of the guys with traps,
Guns, nets, even afraid
Of catching an easy pray,
He has lost many a friend,
Grouls in anger, disgust
Oif it's own fear,
But not able to surmount it,
Ir was always by the side
Of its, s mate and offsprings,
Hungry for many weeks,
It felt cheated by time,
Its throne lost, food seldom
To come by, the lion
Roamed in darkness
Without footfalls,
Smelling that erect animal,
Lest he catches or shoot him,
Content with the small preys
He can muster,
Feeding its children,
With nightmares of being caged
Or shot in the daylight.

Ravikiran Arakkal