Living Off the Land – A Sleight of Hand

From the smallest of prairie dogs
To the biggest of all cats, the Asian tiger,
Nature’s most treacherous and demanding cycle
Pertains to the foraging and ravenous hunting
Occurring all around the prodigious
And glorious Earth.

Humans render these species more and more extinct
Through their encroachment on these magnificent creatures’
Grassland, forest, and underground homes;
Nearly decimating the remaining populations
Of these now endangered animals,
Humans, too, continue to exist
In these delicate and extreme environments.

While the prairie dog is much lower than humanity
On the ecological food chain,
And the wonderfully camouflaged tiger
Is quite nearly at the top,
Both are considered either as pests
For their constant burrowing,
Or as valuable commodities
For their luxurious fur and penises
Which are believed
To produce highly libidinous aphrodisiacs. 

A constant matter of survival, this living off the Earth’s
Windswept, built-up, and generously used lands,
Where humankind continues to tighten its hold
On a multitude of sensitive environs,
While maintaining its protective grip
On these desperately threatened
And nearly extant species.