New terror 4 The old ruler sits forlorn On his mouldly throne, Before him lies his mate Lifeless and long gone Her blood and entrails oozing, Darkening the earth with new colour. In the eerie silence The subjects wait for new assurance But the old one only stares with rheumy eyes, Unseeing and gone beyond all cares. At last a bold youth speaks, ‘Grandfather, you taught us How to prowl and prey, Dodge the spears and sidestep the traps. But now the new enemy Comes from nowhere, Moves like lightning And kills at will’. He stops and waits For rebuke or other response But the old ruler holds his peace Oblivious to all around him Except his lifeless mate.Suddenly a young voice cries out, ‘Grandfather | saw, | saw one He looked so funny All dressed up like a tree.’ The the village idiot butts in ‘Yes grandfather, | saw it too But he was not chasing Grandmother, but another tree’. There is a general murmur Voicing outrage at the upstarts For speaking out of turn. But the ancient one is beyond anger And has no wisdom to offer To counter The new terror riding On streaked lightening. He shuffles and slowly descends To lie besides his mate In object abdication, And the young are newly lost. The old regime has given way And a new order Has overtaken the habitat Grinning on children’s faces Painted with psychopathic stripes.