Time Held Us Green

 

I don’t remember

            which explorer found the beast

            and brought us running

but I do recall the savage sheen

on leaves of bushes

as we crept on hunters feet

makeshift spears in hand

watching for the startled prey

 

finding the rabbit half-moulded

already to the earth

its chest rising faster

than the pulse in my ears.

.

It would not flee

and give the thrill of chase,

eyes shining, twitching

the shoes and sticks that probed

brought only a sickened twitch.

That brown patch of fear swelled

to fill the silence

ancient and breathy.

 

Evening was filling the bush

with shadows as we left

sensing a tinge of wild fur

upon our skins

a bubble of voices

toying with spear thrusts

dried entrails taut

for bows that twang in dreams.

 

Next day the grass had no trace

of flesh nor fur

and though we searched under

every bough and blade

found only air.