Eventide When the day’s end is doneit’s farewell to the sunAnd the brief eventidewill cast light far aside ~ Poem and African Elephant capture, Eventide © Jerry L. Ferrara, from the remote Zambezi River, Zimbabwe, Africa
Furtively, a Nile Crocodile rises to the water’s surface: A Nile Crocodile A Nile Crocodilewaits in covert styleThe purpose of its dressmight lead to some distressSo those who’re unawareshould practice to bewareFor in the serene statea deadly force awaits ~ Poem and Nile Crocodile capture, A Nile Crocodile © Jerry L. Ferrara
Like ghosts they drift across the ‘scapewithout apparent formBut from them telltale signs remainthe purpose to informAt latrines is where the choreof messaging is framedFor in the waste are missives sentassertions are proclaimed ~ Poem and Painted Wolf captures, Painted Wolves © Jerry L. Ferrara from Zimbabwe, Africa
The Encounter The encounter was intense. It came unexpectedly with a startling swiftness when the African Lion exploded from the nearby brush and bore down on the bewildered Wildebeest calf. Separated from its mother and the herd, the young Gnu faced a certain demise. Its struggle to survive was certainly spirited, yet not potent enough. In the end, the feline stole its soul. ~ Anecdote, African Lion and Wildebeest calf image, The Encounter © Jerry L. Ferrara
Upon A Mound Silent, silent it makes no soundSits it and waits upon a moundBecome complacent and less waryYou’ll surely be this feline’s quarry ~ Poem and Leopard capture, Upon A Mound © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Fighter It was a titanic battle with Death, and Life fiercely fought back … but it was only a matter of time. Intensively the Burchell’s Zebra struggled to keep up with its herd. It had just survived a lion attack, and that encounter had left the zebra disemboweled. As its strength wearily waned a Spotted Hyena clan’s relentless bedevilments became bolder and bolder. What ensued was a battle of will that reached tsunami proportions. Repeatedly the hyenas charged. Again and again the zebra met each assault with its sharp hooves flying. The fracas continued for what seemed an eternity. In the final moments of its life, the zebra stood stalwart and defiantly faced its assailants. Then the opportunists closed in and down went the equid. There was rending of flesh, fast whoop calls and a confusing obfuscation of view as mortality was consummated. In the end the fighter was vanquished yet one aspect of the striped horse could not be diminished. Its dauntless spirit lives and still wanders the vast expanses of the enigmatic Mara. ~ Anecdote and Burchell’s Zebra and Spotted Hyena capture, The Fighter © Jerry L. Ferrara, Kenya.
For Now I’ll Just Peek Though I may be weeI’m quite safe, you see.When I hitch a rideI don’t need to hide.As time moves alongthis youngster gets strong.Soon I will exploreand walk lowland floor.But until the dayI make my own way,it’s safety I seek.For now I’ll just peek.A mighty baboonI will be quite soon. ~ Poem and Olive Baboon capture, For Now I’ll Just Peek © Jerry L. Ferrara, Northern Serengeti, Tanzania
A Cacophony on Steroids The din was disquieting in the Cape Gannet rookery as thousands of these strikingly handsome sea birds quarreled for real estate from which to breed and rear their young — a cacophony on steroids. ~ Anecdote and Cape Gannet capture, A Cacophony on Steroids © Jerry L. Ferrara. Lambert’s Bay, South Africa
A Potpourri of Color Displaying a potpourri of color, a Little Bee Eater in East Africa pauses while preening. ~ Anecdote and Little Bee Eater capture, A Potpourri of Color © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Typical Feline Gesture On a crisp morning in Kenya’s East Masai Mara, a pride of African Lions idly basked in the warming rays of a radiant sun. When finished playing with its mother’s wiggling tail tip, a rambunctious youngster proceeded toward the fore-end of the patient parent cat and gently rubbed its chin and malar glands on the lioness’ face … in a typical feline gesture. ~ Anecdote and African Lions capture, A Typical Feline Gesture © Jerry L. Ferrara