Chris Sykes's Blog: some bits and bobs - Posts Tagged "sloths"

James And The Forest Thieves

James was not the cleverest of creatures.
His doleful expression and his sleepy, yet handsome features
often gave the impression that his head was filled with air,
that not very much went on up there.

His attention was short lived and somewhat fleeting
unless he was hanging around, sleeping, or eating.

James was a sloth and was gentle at heart
unless he was hungry, then he’d tear plants apart.

He did not know much about maths and the sciences
and he had no need for our modern appliances,
although he did own a rather large T.V.
which he had carved himself, from the trunk of his tree.

One morning James awoke from a pleasant dream
and went to take a drink from his local stream.

But to his surprise and to his amazement
he found no stream
but a road
lined with a pavement.

There were people: some thin, some round, some overly tall,
some squashed, some stretched, and a few very small.

James watched from the safety of his tree,
he found them much more amusing than T.V.

They had an unusually strange way of walking
and the noise they made resembled squawking.

The taller ones kept themselves as busy as bees
and the smaller ones ran around with dirty knees.

“Don’t worry James, they won’t be here long.
Although they are loud, they're not very strong.”

“Who goes there?” James asked a little frightened.
His fur stood on end as his senses heightened.

“Don’t be scared, sloth. I’m not after you,
although, you would make a lovely sloth stew.”
Jagar the jaguar poked his head through the leaves,
“I’m on the prowl for those little forest thieves.”

“I’m sure sloth stew is not that nice.” James said.
“Oh, but it is,” Jagar replied. “It’s lovely with bread.”
“OUT!” James shouted. “Get out you monstrous boar!”
Jagar climbed down, dropping to the forest floor.

James yawned. He was ready for a snooze.
And when sleep called, he could never refuse.

As James drifted off into a very regular nap
Jagar stalked through the forest laying out his trap.

A ball bounced by near the trees
and a small person with dirty knees
ran and tripped and ran some more
but the ball had been stopped by a big, spotted paw.

“Come on,” Jagar urged, “come closer little thief.
My promise to you is: I will keep this brief.”

The boy came nearer and nearer still.
Jagar the jaguar waited
and waited until...

Above the ground James dreamt of trees and their leaves,
he dreamt of jaguars and little forest thieves.

“NOOOO!!!” James awoke with such a fright
he let go of his branch and fell from a height.

The boy neared the ball and Jagar too.

James fell and fell and continued through.

As branch by branch passed him by
James wished he’d somehow learnt to fly.

“Meeeowww!” Jagar screamed rushing out of the trees
and the small person with dirty knees

laughed with joy at the hilarious sight
of a sloth riding a jaguar in the bright sun light.