*

Savage Land

By Fake Stephens

Morning; mists touched with red
Rocky forest, snow plains

Mammoth tiptoe here. ¥

Crowned by glaciers
Waterfall epaulettes
Green kings tall and proud

Lake and wood past sight
Haughty pine, prim fur, birch
North wind teases cold.

Wide muzzle twitches
Pebbles jump, land shakes- boom
As mighty paws stride.

Grass swarms the sky
As the wind runs and plays
Between aurochs’ horns.

Pale lake—-so many reeds!
Island eyes peek through pond scum
Splash! And elk is gone.

Dawn, sleepy cedars *%
Smooth muscles ripple *
Laughter dances wild.

Black weeds, eyes of blue
Silver fur under pines
The pack runs silent.

The wolf's sharp ears twitch.
Never hearing shadows
Of scything talons.

Golden, secret fields
Red, where Terror Birds shriek.
Brown feathered hunger.

Fur needled, eyes sharp
Grass bending underpaw
Pride crawls, sabres drawn.

The snow like marble
Peaceful between the birches

Shining fangs flash bright.

Waves gust to the shore

Whoosh, roar! They break to pearls
Monsters stir beyond.

Waves of froth, spume, foam q

Sea is moving, shifting

Grey god, rise hungry.

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ARTI TC NNGR CHIRICO