The sun had not yet risen,  

the two third moon making it’s way 

to a corner of the sky

drawing the curtain of dawn, 

the seen and unseen. 

In the jungle only two truths

prevail, the living and the prey

the only commandment

worthwhile that remains, 

the seen and unseen.

Our guide tells us 

there were four tiger cubs
 
the third was killed three days ago,

they haven’t found the corpse yet,

the seen and unseen.

The leopard dragged  a fawn 

up the tree, dead legs dangling 

and returns to feast.

We watch enthralled, 

the seen and unseen. 

I wonder if that cub was in pain

his last thoughts as the lights

went out, I hope the fawn 

never knew what hit her,

the seen and unseen. 

‘Law of the jungle,’ I console 

myself, fight or flight, sink 

or swim. But then that is just life:

for the tigress calling for her cub,

the seen and unseen

The deer that wanders helplessly,

hapless, trying to survive,

each alarm call echoing, noiseless

in worlds manhandled by men,

the seen and unseen.