The Leopard, Boar, and Their Unkindness
a beastly poem
Feral but wholesome in its strangeness
that two wild beasts
meet at the abandoned nest
of a raven not long for the world
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and decide, instead of hunting the helpless
fledglings, to raise
them as reapers of the sky
like their mother would’ve, given time.
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The unspotted leopard and boar — tuskless,
its eye gouged and gored,
tracked the unkindness for eight
days and nights before they flocked toward
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the grave of a shaman with three eyes.
“It’s mine,” the boar cried.
Then, Loyal beaked it
from its socket and returned her sight.
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Brave was the most reckless in flight.
The agile feline climbed to
unwind his wing from the
branch of an elm tree that had a face
|
like Aphrodite carved into its side.
“How tame,” she crowed,
then drew her claws
through its bark, marring the visage.
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A spotted coat was all she ever wanted,
so Honest plucked
berries from the defaced tree
and left splotchy, indigo stains on her mane.
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They became undoubtedly bonded —
a family in every way,
yet, the motherly pair knew they
would eventually have to leave the fledglings.
|
“When we are gone, do not be haunted
by our absence. Hold us
instead in your bellies, and
let us live within you, beastly as always.”
About the Creator
Sam Eliza Green
Wayward soul, who finds belonging in the eerie and bittersweet. Poetry, short stories, and epics. Stay a while if you're struggling to feel understood. There's a place for you here.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Comments (1)
I like the support of family in this work. I love the savagery of the beasts, too.