Motionless the big cat waits
deep in the scrub shadows
sun starting to set, night draws in
fading light makes her invisible

Only the odd flick of an ear
that gives her position away
suddenly she tenses and coils
a spurt of speed and its done

She and her cubs will eat tonight
softly the mother leopard calls
with a few rustles of undergrowth
they tumble into the moonlight

Furry balls of fun without a care
they belly up to the deer carcass
a few more weeks learning the ropes
then a solitary life awaits them all

Of the four she now has with her
maybe one will make it through
struggling with the strife of living
whilst fighting to rear her own cubs

For now they are safe and well tended
with a soft cry she takes them back
to her well hidden clifftop cave
they are all safe for yet another day

written 08/06/2013