The Dark Side Of Nature Poem by Loke Kok yee

The sun lingered with a last gaze towards the placid lake
Then quickly slide over the horizon to end his reign
Life hesitates in the twilight as light awhile opaque
Uncertain shadows played till night was no longer constrained
Soon darkness sets in as shy creatures of the night awake
While the moon crept over the mountains to light up the plain

A gentle breeze spread ripples running on the quiet mere
The moonbeams shimmered and danced as they gaily ride the waves
Leaves rustled, the forest whispered, soon as the breeze drew near
Throwing eerie shadows which bodes of events rather grave
From the darkness silently emerged creatures that brings fear
The night to decide which creature dies and which to be saved

In the shallows by the shore little fishes safely sleeps
On the bank frogs converged and loudly battled for a mate
But predators patiently lurks on land and in the deep
With skill or opportunity their victims to locate
Those that strike on the wing while others in the shadows creep
Some pursue their prey relentless but some just hide and wait

And it is most dangerous when the night is fresh and young
When hunger gnaws or a mate's on call, caution loses ground
That's when the civet that sneaked up to the frogs had sprung
Drawn by the lusty calls of mating frogs while on his rounds
The swiftness of the deadly attack left the rest quite stunned
Mayhem and splashes ensues then silence and no more sound

The little fishes in fear darted farther out from shore
It was a windfall as frightened frogs followed close behind
Predators feasted and fishes and frogs fell by the score
The frenzy attracting a caiman which closed in to dine
Too late the bigger fishes became aware to withdraw
When it's over little was left of the others to find

A troop of macaques settled on a treetop for the night
Softly murmured to assure each other that all was well
Unaware that a python was hunting in the moonlight
While their droppings had lured a tiger with its pungent smell
The python struck at one and the rest took off in blind flight
The big cat pounced, luck on his side, in the dark some had fell

A cricket astride a log chirping for a mate to breed
Heedless that a hungry centipede had taken abode
Oblivious to all except for satisfying his needs
He was seized while still in song the love call was his death ode
But calmly waiting hidden was one that has yet to feed
The tongue flicked and both insects lay in the mouth of the toad

In the darkness a moth flittered from flower to flower
With only olfaction to guide while seeking out nectar
Along flew by a bat looking for insects to devour
And with ease pick out the moth with his sonar detector
But a nearby owl was in her element at that hour
A silent swoop and the bat's taken by the night raptor

When dawn arrives many will not be seeing the new day
Nature took her course but will bring forth more to join the fray