A wonderful pristine wilderness
\nIn Zambia’s far west
\nThe Liuwa Plain National Park
\nWhere existence and the rest
\nCome together feral souls
\nThe environment to test<\/p>\n
Five years after the Angolan War
\nWith poachers everywhere
\nTrophy hunters followed
\nHeightening despair
\nWiping out the iconic Lions
\nReally all but one
\nA lionness known as Lady
\nWho somehow dodged the gun<\/p>\n
Who became a kind of phantom
\nWith her own identity
\nHaving to live a lonely life
\nOf unconventionality
\nA maverick in many ways
\nA gypsy around town
\nUnconventional hunting
\nAnd ofcourse what she put down<\/p>\n
Was constantly under attack
\nFrom hyenas who would come
\nTo hope to steal whatever
\nOr at least get some
\nToo many Lions had glass eyes
\nAnd stared down from a wall
\nTrophies in some foreign land
\nPart of a hunters haul<\/p>\n
Whatever fate mow held in store
\nLady felt that she
\nWas big enough and fit enough
\nAnd was, destined to be
\nAble in this place to cope
\nDespite her lonely state
\nDespite her vulnerability
\nStill she did feel great<\/p>\n
Lions tend to hunt together
\nSo a solitary Soul
\nwill find things much more difficult
\nTo exercise control
\nStalking in plain sight
\nNeeds cover, and after a kill
\nProtecting what you have caught of course
\nIs more, difficult still<\/p>\n
Take the spotted Hyena’s
\nThey come around in packs
\nBoisterous and violent
\nHow can one relax
\nIt can be an easy steal
\nThe rumpus that they cause
\nAnd when they are aggressive
\nEven a lion must pause<\/p>\n
Herbert Bruer photographer
\nAn Unassuming man
\nWith a gentle aura
\nAnd a very sensitive plan
\nOf action following hyena’s
\nBut Lady Liuwa too
\nPerceptive to his aesthetics
\nAnd his gentle view<\/p>\n
She being very lonely
\nPicked up on his flair
\nFelt his true mentality
\nAnd just wanted to share
\nIn his cerebration
\nPerhaps his reverie
\nAbsorbed by his musings
\nAnd his mystery<\/p>\n
She would come and express herself
\nBy rolling gently by
\nHis vehicle and he would film her
\nEach exchange an eye
\nDhe came into their camp at night
\nAnd lay down by his tent
\nHe never ever fed her
\nIts just she seemed content<\/p>\n
To be there, in his company
\nA wild soul and a man
\nDespite the tempered memories
\nShe had found a fan
\nHe would hear her purring
\nAnd she might hear his snore
\nA wild soul and a human
\nA fact one can’t ignore<\/p>\n
African Parks were thinking
\nTo translocate to see
\nIf they could find a healthy male
\nFor her and let her be
\nA mother let her just be true
\nBut, the male they found
\nChoked coming out of sedation
\nAnd died upon the ground<\/p>\n
After his cremation
\nSeveral months went by
\nWhen they found two virile brothers
\nAnd brought them back to try
\nPut them in a boma and lady did come by
\nTo investigate the new lions
\nAnd together they did lie<\/p>\n
Their chemistry seemed positive
\nThey mated as we know
\nBut lady was infertile
\nWhich clearly was a blow
\nBut they remained good friends we hear
\nAnd lady knew her worth
\nBut sadly in the course of time
\nShe never gave birth<\/p>\n
She died the day before LION day
\nThe ninth of August just this year
\nA truly beautiful Warrioress
\nA suvivor and a tear
\nWill no doubt fall down many a cheek
\nAnyone who came
\nTo know This lovely animal
\nLADY LIUWA by name.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A wonderful pristine wilderness In Zambia’s far west The Liuwa Plain National Park Where existence and the rest Come together feral souls The environment to test Five years after the Angolan War With poachers everywhere Trophy hunters followed Heightening despair … Continue reading