Lion Defending its Prey by Sir Edwin Landseer (c. 1840)
Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Congratulations to
Michael Escoubas, who submitted an unusual poem to the November Poetry
Challenge. He took the “what if” prompt
in a very different way than did others who submitted their work.
Bloody Paws
The young lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
~ Psalm 104.21 (Holman Christian Standard
Bible)
I’m struck by the
young lions
who seek their
food from God.
Has God wired
creatures to know
or seek Him? I
think of wisdom
that resides in
God exceeding
anything imaginable.
What if God took
me by the hand
and opened such
secrets? What if
I were given a
glimpse of God
at work on the
lion’s instincts
of stealth and
smell and sounds
as he jumps his
prey without
so much as a what
if of doubt
or after-thought
of despair.
The young lion
lives his life, seeks
his prey, stands
with bloody paws
on the gazelle’s
still warm carcass,
then roars his prayer
of thanks.
What if I could go
through life
without
forethought of grief or regret?
~ Michael Escoubas
Bio: Michael Escoubas began writing poetry for
publication in August of 2013, after retiring from a 48-year-career in the printing
industry. Early in life his mother said, “You have a gift for words; you should
do something with that gift.” He
writes poetry, in part, because of his mother’s encouragement. Michael also
writes poetry because he believes poetry brings people together and that poets
are menders of broken things. Michael has published one chapbook, Light Comes Softly, which is available
by contacting the author.
