The Galkope’s Doubting Thomas
A rough guide to the PNG general elections

Lucky little lizard

BY MICHAEL DOM

Gecko cartoonTak! Tak! Tak-tak, tak-tak, tak-tak, tak-tak! …
Small mercies fall upon a tin roof
Glad tidings whistle through rafters
A pleasant evening between here and there
And a song to share with musing geckos
Eating silly bugs bedazzled
By luminous glows.

Tchk! Tchk-tchk, tchk-tchk, tchk-tchk! …
Staccato feeling at a flick of tail
Defying laws that hold me
Neither over nor under
Neutrally buoyant or rather
Drowning in suspended animation
Better a ceiling clinging critter.

Tshhh! Tshhh-tshhh, tshhh! tshh, tssshhhhhh!
Simmering rice on a hot gas stove
Is habit not hunger driven
Mouthful of moth
He scurries off
Like some freak reflection
Of me entering the kitchen.

Wibbly-wobbly, dribbly-gobbly, bibbly-bobbly, blur!
Glaring, defiant, lizard to giant
In retort to my musing, at a meager moth,
He snaps once then twice ­–it’s gone!
In a quick lick n’ a wink: ‘Urrrp!’
Then them-there glazed eyes
Lucky little lizard.

Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Michael Dom

Welcome Harry. I think reptiles eyes are cool. And they are awesome critters, which can't be tamed. Geckos are so daring to live in close proximity to giants.

Harry Egimbari

Hi Michael - That's a wonderful poem. It takes me back too; to my childhood.

Whilst other kids were making coconut 'broom-stick' arrows to kill them, I never saw the reason why.

They were perfectly innocent animals who had their place in the balance of nature. They kept moths and flies in check.

Is it just me or do they have hauntingly beautiful eyes? And not too many people are this fond of reptilians.That's for sure.

Tenkyu tumas Michael.

Michael Dom

Barbara - I'm glad to recall that memory to you. The geckos at Kerevat Station were the largest I've seen.

This poem is an anedote of Labu Station, Morobe. The geckos there are smaller but no less assertive.

Mrs Barbara Short

Thanks, Michael. Lovely poem. Takes me back. Enjoyed them for 13 years.

Sori we haven't got any geckos down here to keep us amused, nor those wonderful, beautiful, tiny moths that collect near lights after rain.

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them.

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)