the incessant whine
of mosquitoes
provides a backdrop
to the intermittant
rythmic roars
of a male lion
letting other animals
know he is king
the cheetah mother
calls her babies
with chirping sounds
they run to her
expectant
she kisses their noses
loudly they purr
knowing they are safe
the low coughing grunt
reveals the sight
of a leopard
hiding in the branches
of a tree
ensuring no other predator
will steal its food
which it will eat at its leisure
high breathy singing
and chanting
accompanies
spectacular vertical leaps
of Maasai warriors
trying to outjump
each other
in a contest of strength
hyenas laughing
as they steal the prey
from an unlucky
predator who momentarily
was distracted
this was in their plan
the predator goes hungry
and the hyenas feast
the high pitched
sudden screaming
of a bushbaby
raises the hair
on one's arms until
they realize that
they've been fooled
by a creature of the night
safari music to my ears
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this is what i imagine Africa sounds like...