Innocence and Experience ©

Cavorting in their happy dance
with watchful eye and sprightly prance,
they trod the wondrous forest world
down to the pool where water swirled;
and there imbibed the mountain's cold
while through the trees the sun shone gold
and in the cool of dusk's release
the deer stood drinking in their peace.

In the fading light of an eastern sky
the lion roared his nightly cry,
and stood amidst the empty plain
with cavernous mouth and fearless mane.
He threw his challenge to the sky
but the black expanse gave no reply.
Undaunted he turned and ambled back
along the well-worn track
to where he slept in awesome darkness,
a regal sphinx in his lonely fastness.