Wandering Alone
I wander through the zoo
alone, surrounded by animals.
Over the heads of a family,
beside a pram,
I hear, “Don’t go wandering off!”
I watch tiger cubs clamour
for mum’s attention,
then stroll to the bears,
just in time to catch
a furry bottom disappear
into a cave.
“Come back!”
A child calls,
echoing my thoughts.
His father has other concerns.
“Someone might take you.
Hold my hand!”
I walk past a soon-to-be-released exhibit,
now just a construction site,
next to a grassy area of lunch eaters.
Ahead, a woman power walks
with a cheetah’s stride.
A wobbly-voiced boy
attempts to follow.
She turns back.
“Find somewhere warm to
sleep tonight.”
The boy overtakes her and now
Mother must catch him before
he wanders alone,
amongst the crowd.
