Serengeti Chorus Line

Some literary, some dandy
All social against the family trend
Tawny coats with sable trim
Dressed to the nines
crowns rakishly askew
padding through wind ruffled fields
songs filled with Wisdom to the brim
These Teacher prowl...

"Paint your hearts upon your shields!
Have Courage in the face of adversity!"
They growl

"Stand tall, be fully present
Remember your birthright
for your life is the main event.
Have awareness, authority
over your unconscious thoughts
Listen to counsel
before you pounce into action

Loving hearts, have we
Largest in the family Felidae
Genus Panthera
Stalking minds
ever vigilant for opportunities
amid Life's many challenges
Nothing good comes easy
the better the lessons
greater the rewards
the sooner adversity will appear
to challenge you at every turn
Defend your chosen territory

Sun-dappled day or
starry night when my constellation
stalks the sky
Creator & Univere
are always there
Listening for your Anger
your Denials
Beware
Hubris is a sly & steady foe

Every lesson spreads from the inside out
Loving Respect
is the beginning
for Self
for Family
for Society
for the World around us.
Truth
True Nobility
is not for the faint of heart
Never allow fear
to keep you from taking action

Self-respect is not vanity
nor is kindness a liability
Androcles can attest
that the smallest act of Compassion
is never forgotten
never wasted
Energy generously given
returns eventually
usually when we least expect it
and need it most

Purring in contentment
Coughing
Chuffing in warning
Voice your intentions
The roaring of your pride
rolling to the corners of your kingdom
Your family
Your honor
Your spirit
Defend what is dearest to you
fiercely, ferociously if you must

Aggression has its time & place
Although true Authority
leads assertively
like Inanna or Buddha upon my back
a throne of Strength,
Consistency,
calm guiding Wisdom

Mother Sekhmet!
Eye of Ra
Powerful One
swift silent deliverer of Karma
Defend the innocent
Annihilate the wicked
We will follow your lead
for we know
Justice crowns a life well lived
nor merely well intentioned.

Gentle Strength
of the sacred Tarot
Fifth sign
of the Zodiac in Greece
Avatar of Vishnu the Preserver
We have drawn the chariots
of gods and goddesses
Dionysus reveling in the harvest
Phoebus Apollo in all his glory
Cybele, mother of gods
wild Artemis

King of Beasts
My share is always the best
We lead by example
Our Queens
Sisters in arms
Rulers of all they survey
deadly in their grace
equal to our strength
our cunning
our intimidating majesty

Rampant throughout history
yet content to hunt field & forest
tending our royal dynasty
Our cubs piled in the creche
dreams twitching their paws
Their mothers teaching them
all they need know
to stand upon their own strength
one day all too soon
Gathering power with each
scratch of their claws
making leaning unnecessary,
Leadership inevitable.
How do you live your promise
if your life is a vow?
What Truth will you sing?
What wrongs in your society
will you allow?"


For those new to the game, each poem is inspired by a Teacher found in Nature; a star, stone, animal, plant etc that holds lessons of Wisdom for those who listen. Can you guess who is singing now?