THE LION MAN

 Watching an archaeology programme that looked back to the 1930’s , it showed an old
site in a cave, where an archaeologist was carefully gathering pieces, slivers, almost
splinters of wood, when excavations had to stop.  Everything had to stop  because threats 
of the Second World  War were gathering.   Later, when the bits of wood that had been
found were  put together,  this most beautiful Lion Man who had been in hiding there
all the time appeared.  The moment I saw him, I fell in love. 

     THE LION MAN

This lion man
Is so beautiful
It makes my heart
Tremble.

For in its
Wrecked and lovely
Countenance,
I see
The endurance
Of all
Born from darkness
Into this greater darkness,
Where every soul realizes
Its aloneness.
Its bitter,
Bleak,
Irredeemable
Loneliness.

Yet lovers must love,
Words fall
From loving lips.
Hands touch
Souls
Courageous
In their enduring,
Gentle
In their laughter,
Resolute
In their bold living.

Only compassion
Can bring
Light
To that darkness.
Only hope
Inhabit those frozen
Wastes
Of aloneness.
Only love
Create the Lion man
In us all.

                      © 2019 Gwen Grant

PRIVATE KEEP OUT!  by Gwen Grant
published by Penguin Vintage  Children’s Classics
available in paperback and as an ebook