Light and Dark Deceptions

Nature’s Dark: Fatal paws,
And claws,
And teeth.
Padding ever through the night,
Hidden and unseen.
To spring and swipe,
Brings sudden death
To the chosen prey.
The beauty of a tiger’s stripes,
The rhino’s cute wee tail,
The lion’s full, impressive mane,
These things mask the dangerous truth.
That nature’s beasts can kill.

Yet nature’s light sometimes will shine:
Lion cubs playing in the sun,
Or foxes gambolling in the field,
Or wolves howling ancient love-songs
To the moon.

Just watch the barking family dog,
Loyal to the end,
Harnessed in awe by man,
(Think of those teeth,
Those killer’s teeth!)
Or stroke the curled-up pussycat,
Lying on a sun-bathed windowsill,
(Think of those paws,
Those killer’s paws) -
Appearances can deceive.