Follow The Leader

We’re looking at the big picture

with the benefit of hindsight.

We followed the the conclusive spoor

on the advice of zoologists;

we raced through the trampled wheat

and the deserted high streets

following the pungent smell,

knowing we were on the right track.

Through bush and plain we followed,

egged on by the great white hunter

in the Emperor’s new safari suit.

Until at last we came upon definitive proof,

a massive defecatory pile,

at the edge of a cliff.

Our leader and the scientists disagreed.

The trail has stopped.

They could have turned back.

And Bwana Gemstone claimed

the beasts had jumped into water

so far below, it could not be seen.

There is no proof of that.

They could have retraced their tracks.

“Leaders do not follow

advice, but issue only orders",

Gemstone said.

Therefore we jumped,

while Gemstone waited

and watched what happened.

On our way down,

we heard the distant

trumpet of elephants.