This Vast Archaic World

This vast archaic world

Of mighty beasts

Divisions in the kingdoms

The Herbivores and the Carnivores

Fighting for life

Fighting for land

Deciding who lives

And who dies

-

The “long-necks”

A family of brachiosauruses

A mother and father

Raising their offspring

In the great herd

In the vast archaic world

-

The Baryonyx, the Spinosaurus

And the mighty Tyrannosaurus

The empire of Carnivores

Seeking to expand their territories

Carrying out their conquests

Against the Herbivores

Against each other

-

Crossing the border

Invading the realm of security

Sowing chaos in the soil

Outlined in the shape of clawed feet

Because peace is not a sacred thing

In this vast archaic world

-

The long-necks flee with the others

With the herds of stegosauruses

And panicked parasaurolophuses

Tearing through forests

Carving out ravines

Plowing through rivers

In a frenzy of feet

Calls of distress rumble like thunder

In this wild storm that only ends

In rains of blood

-

Baryonyx closes in

A tribute of might

Armored in scales and ruthlessness

In a painting of claws and snapping jaws

Framed in glory

In the halls of fame

In this vast archaic world

-

The long-necks are split apart

Mother and Baby pursued by

Spinosarus, lunging closer

Steady eyes never leaving the prize

But ahead, a river

And behind, a certain end

-

No choice

They part the waters

Sawing through the rapids

Swept away to safety

On the other side

Spinosaurus gives up the chase

Resigned to watch

The would-be prey

And yet defeat is not certain

In this vast archaic world

-

But Father is cornered

A dead end

Low bellows reverberate

Across the fallen kingdom

There is no victory here

Mother and Baby cry in answer

Wailing moans of sorrow and anguish

Heard throughout the land

But returned by none

The last song

The final note

-

Father meets his end

Baryonyx clamps unyielding jaws

Around his neck

An end in death

A worthy sacrifice

That his family may live on

Continuing his legacy

A final breath

Eyes grow dim

Snuffing out

Like a flame

In the wind

-

Baryonx enjoys the fruit of his conquest

Only a moment

Only a second

Before victory is ripped away

As Tyrannosaurus rips through his armor

A mighty queen taking back what is hers

Whether it is in her right or not

Because there is no such thing as fair

In this vast archaic world

-

Tyrannosaurus claims the kill

And adds another to her belt

A feast of plenty

Defending her imperial rule

But Spinosaurus closes in

Ready to take the trophy

And seize the crown

In reigns of blood

-

Sounds of battle-roars

Like deafening thunder

Roil through the kingdoms

But for Mother and Baby

There is no comfort

As they flee with the herds

To safer grounds

Leaving their only home behind

Now belonging

To the Carnivores, whose lands

Ever grow with each stolen life

While theirs only shrinks

-

This vast archaic world

Where life and death

Are locked eternally in battle

Will never come to an end

Will reign forever

Spread out to fit

On the coffee table

Resurrected by imagination

In the hands of two children, 12 and 9.