copper dark upon the lion's paw
morning dew steaming into nothingness under the afternoon sun
great thundering of hooves as the wildebeast run
a lone bull elephant trumpets in the distance
the sights and smells and sounds of the african plains
assault my senses as i lay dozing
the cameras are still
our camp is in ruins
the incessant hum of the light generators has stopped
all my companions lay dead
food for the carrion feeders at last
it is only a matter of time before i too shall fall prey
no more time...only moments...
no more counting herds
no more studying the wild inhabitants of this land
at least not for me or my team
instead we shall nourish the same beasts we came to study
the lions will sleep with full bellys tonight
the cheetah cubs we thought so endearing as they played
their hunting games will not starve
a young zebra colt will not have to die today
i am calmed as i lay dozing and thinking in the evening air
there is a certain symmetry in all this
i am not afraid to die
my death will be usefull
we never should have come here
we do not belong
the lions are stirring
the big male rolls a hungry eye in my direction
he rises with a roar
he is majestic
he is beautiful
there is blood on his paw...