A close look at a Leopard as to why she appears so prevalent still (despite man)

The Leopard is an adaptable
and wily predator
she’s secretive and knowledgeable
to boot
she normally patrols
and area of10 sq miles
and dressed in what is her
mottled suit
which offers her
a great system of camouflage
and a half a million or so
do exist
she’s sort of like a shadow
rarely is she seen
but she is quite close
to many souls
but few will have known she’s been
close to them in townships
or in cities
she of course
she does stay in the shadows
and remains a potent force

with cubs she is consistent
she knows her enemies
other leopards, lions of course
and the chimpanzees
hyena’s always on the prowl
so her eyes are everywhere
she lives in caves
near thorny bush
awake to all despair

she may make a kill
and leave it
if a lion should
come to call
she weighs less than
most humans
as a queen she does
not rule
she ‘d rather
leave her quarry
and go and hunt again
for she could be
a victim
but she has a clever brain

she can climb
with such intensity
her body weight is why
Lions can climb but not as high
and clearly will fight shy
and she is very able
to catch smaller prey
and so she can survive
a lean time so to say

she is a patient hunter
moves slowly unperturbed
works with wits
can visualize
her ebulliance
she has curbed
it is probably this
intelligence she possesses
gets her through
that sets her apart
from the many
who take an aggressive view

she would rather slope
off quietly
to fight another day
though rather than fight
like a sorcerer
her magic is in play

she is curious and has courage
and her instinct
does her proud
ancestrally she’s with it
she seems one of the crowd
but in point of fact
she’s secretive
and can wander night and day
and is rarely seen
by anyone
for rumours are that they

she may live close to the margins
and may visit places where
we’ve gobbled up their habitat
and planted houses there
in that case they may visit
and forage in the dark
perhaps go to a store room
but never leave their mark

recessive genes can sometimes
throw
a black knight into view
we call it a panther
and other people too
are excited by this leopard
this shadow in the night
who hunts with all the prowess
of a seriously bright light

never, seen as ungainly
an expert in the trees
can climb out of a river
as easy as you please
carrying a heavy kill
this animal can flee
quite a mean assassin
when it wants to be

a master of disguise
a night cat best unseen
the problems for the leopard
nocturnally life’s mean
the bigger cats are hunting
and she just has to be
up to it, and on the ball
for for her that is the key

as lions and tigers
struggle
the leopard carries on
increasing wandering here and there
part of the great throng
able to diversify
eat snakes and gerbils she
is the perfect predatator
that few will ever see