Retirement Home
And so at last
the great defiant soul is trapped,
her glorious past
belittled: once sovereign fate now mapped.
The lioness snared;
with blunted claws and missing teeth,
betrayed and scared;
beset by those who suckled at her teets.
See now she goes-
pathetic shamble, head held low-
to constrained repose;
no dignity to clothe her.
But the wheels turn!
As they sow, so shall they reap!
The hunter in turn
will slide by degrees to that grey sleep…
MARK GREENLAND