The tiger stops for a drink at a pool
his crouched form shows off his muscles
his eyes show two small fires
but his gentle tongue makes not a ripple on the pool

A small boy plays by the water fall
enjoying the torrent on his shiny skin
the roar of the water on the rocks
copies the voice of the mighty lion
prowling in the undergrowth

The crash of a tree as an elephant appears
dipping his long trunk in the pool
he splashes the tiger on the other side
the tiger shakes himself
to him it is all a game

The boy leaves the waterfall
and runs away from it all
he stops and turns his head
eyes intent and awake
and walks away from the mighty jungle

Something moves in the tall forest grass
the smooth skin shines in the sun
a skin with scales
of both brown and yellow

The snake scans the ground
with lidless unblinking eyes
its ears intent
hidden by a piece of skin

It spots something moving
a small frightened mouse
hiding in a clump of grass
trying to avoid the stare

The snake has already eaten
but gives the mouse a stare
the mouse runs off
the snake looks on
its tongue flicking in and out
now and then

The tired snake
coils itself up like an old rope
and goes to sleep

A ship steams towards the shore
No port but a sandy beach
with tall palm trees stretching
like tired hippies

A crash of the falling anchor
the loud clanking of a chain
throws up the screaming birds
like a poor magicians card trick

The blanket like sail
***** in the wind
an extra large hanky
waved by a sorry hand

The smoke from the funnel stops
the tired engine pants
like it has had too much exercise
the birds settle to rest again
as the ship slows to a stop

As many men sweat and groan
with heavy stones on ropes to pull
the pyramid grows and grows
like a small child growing up

The man in charge watches on
whip in his clenched fist
his dark eyes look over the work
his ears alert for rebellion

The pharaoh sits in his palace
unaware of the troubles of his slaves
drinking fine palm wine
from a large golden chalice

The sphinx lies on its plinth
like the king of beasts taking a rest
demanding respect from all
its large yellow form
casting spooky shadows on the sand
as the sun rises up over the horizon

Tall chimneys ****** up brick red necks
their smoke black heads unblinking on the scene
for the chimneys have no eyes
no nose to smell out the waste

A small boy crosses a ***** street
his blackened face
mixed with tears and sweat
make a pattern of his features
a sign of over work
a sign of torture

Along the street a river winds its way
like a great sluggish ***** snake
its low banks brown with mud
like a rugby player after a match

The boy finds a comforting shelter
a small shack with a blanket
the patterns faded with much use
but it is comfort for the boy
as tired he falls asleep
his eyes closed his breathing quiet

Not much moves in the streets
as the red brick sentinels
blind and deaf watch on
unmoving as the night draws on

The sun pokes its rays
from the shiny blue sea
a man stands alone
waiting watching
the wind in his hair
the fire in his eyes

The birds awake
spread their wings
their voices add to the roar
the beast of the ocean waits
its roar adding to the crash of the waves

The man sees it all
eyes intent ears awake
the roar of nature
far out balances
the roar of the waiting world

The lonely darkness
swallows up the light of day
nothing is left of the light
but a thin pin *****

The pin ***** opens
the dark is lit up
a fire burns bright
the flames reach up
with burning hands

Three silver rings
thick and thin
a circle of gold
bubble in the fire

As gold liquid flows
the thunder is heard
as grey light is lit up
from the volcano