Somehow I knew you would come
The premonition tingled in my brain
Like a scratching at the base of my skull
Saying wait: it will happen; something special.
Too long spent in the truck, travelling the dirt roads
Concentrating the eye on distant shadows
Which turned out to be termite mounds.
Thirsty, hot, tense and tired
Eyes clouded with dust
Turn back they said; enough
And as we turned
I knew. I knew to stop
And we did.
Maybe I could hear it in the silence of the bush
Primeval senses scenting you on the wind.
Or maybe your spirit met with mine
Your fierce dominance stealing into my heart.
For suddenly there you were;
You and your cubs.
A regal mother; a proud mother
Marshalling your offspring
For parade.
We sat in stillness, afraid to break the magic
Admiring the closeness of the moment
And they gambled round your paws
Mewing for attention.
A signal from you and they stepped in line
As you leapt upon the bonnet of the truck
Meeting my eye; a moment of blind trust
A nod at the spirit that joined us.
And so we sat
Motionless
Until you had scouted the horizons
And we our fill of the thrill
Of this closeness.
And suddenly, with alacrity, you were down,
With a last salute to our shared moment,
Your tear-marked face and waving tail
Commanded your little troop
To move off to do battle with the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking aim, I took a shot
And clicked.
For memories are held in such photos.
Photo from a live screenshot via Africam. Words and shot copyright to Englepip©
Although the above photo is from a screenshot, the incident itself is based on truth. We were travelling in Samburu National Park, Kenya when I had a premonition which persuaded us to stop after a tiring day. I knew we were about to see something very special – what – I did not know, but this moment will stay with me forever. Unfortunately my camera work at the time was not successful but I can still see the whole thing in my mind and I was so fortunate to see this cheetah and its cubs on a live camera on Africam.
Englepip's World 