On the prowl

The evening fire had turned
into glowing embers and ash,
and the dogs and people had begun
to make their way through the dark and cool late autumn night
to the holes and huts in which they slept

♫ ♫ ♫

And when the crickets finally stopped singing,
the last two beings to leave the fire began to walk
slowly towards their beds

♫ ♫ ♫

Upon reaching the large eucalyptus tree
that stood watch near the entrance to the farm,
the dog took off
and ran faster than he ever had before,
reaching the tractor shed some fifty yards away
in three seconds or less
and leaving his human companion alone
with the leopard
that lay hidden in the shadows a few yards away

Silence reigned
for several moments,
and then the man continued walking
slowly to his room,
while the leopard waited patiently
for something else to eat
to wander into its lair

♫ ♫ ♫