Essence Of Life

[with apologies to whosoever concocted the original anecdote]

In the scorched landscapes of East Africa,
as a steely dawn breaks over the sleepy horizon
a gazelle suddenly bursts awake
and runs for its life
-for it must outrun the hungry cheetah
just to stay alive.

In another corner, a desperate cheeta
awakens on hearing the clobber of hooves
and chases the gazelle with all its might...
it must eat to stay alive.

Let me sneak back into my own ratrace
before the water rises above my nose.

(c) Max Babi, Nov . 2005