Cub

November 2010

If the cub can’t trust the lion, how could she trust a man?
If the one can’t trust the others, how could she trust the land?

She hunts with the lioness
and wrestles with playmates—
not yet lifemates in her early days.
With her own kind,
their paws and manes,
she learns to fight, and yes,
she preys.
Until preyed upon.
The lion throws his weight on her back,
resilient spine, until it breaks.
The lion comes over her
stifles with knotted mane,
greater mass, mass of disgust.
He overtakes the cub of the pride,
her pride.

If the cub can’t trust the lion, how could she trust a man?