Context: On the 21st December, 2022, Sumatran Tigress Delilah gave birth to three critically endangered Tiger cubs, later named Susu (meaning milk), Ketambe (named after a village in Aceh), and Marni (meaning good), and honestly, alongside Delilah and Dad Kembali, this stripy family honestly means so much to me, I love watching these tumbling siblings play together (above picture taken in April, just as they were exploring their habitat), I of course had to celebrate their 1st birthday with a little poem that I wrote whilst waiting for their birthday celebrations to kick off at Adelaide Zoo! 🐅🐯🐅🎂🥳
"A year ago, on the 21st December, 2022,
Three striped Sumatran Tiger cubs were born at Adelaide Zoo,
How swiftly time has flown,
Fleeting, as Delilah and Kembali's precious trio of cubs have grown,
At Adelaide Zoo, watching the majestic prowess of these mighty creatures,
Is among some of the sheer serenity and quiet soothing that I have utterly known.
Under the watchful eye of Mum Delilah,
Susu, Ketambe and Marni have only continued to flourish,
Keen eyes watch the stripy siblings tumble and topple,
Preening one another with a prickly tongue swish,
Watching Delilah lick Ketambe, even after a year,
Only further warms my heart's cockles!
Susu, Marni and Ketambe,
The first Sumatran Tiger cubs born at Adelaide Zoo,
How quickly those 365 days have gone,
This much is true,
I remember it like only yesterday when I saw the Tiger cubs for the first time,
I could've cried, a feeling of such sweet sublime!
Gazing at such small stripy wonders, from their paws to their ears;
A feeling that has only heightened over the past year!
I wonder if they know it's their birthday,
As an eager crowd gathers around,
Artfully striped faces sit up in anticipation,
Perhaps taking in the celebratory gathering across the ground,
Doting and dedicated Keepers jump behind the scenes,
I think, the stripy sensations excitement careenes,
As they jump out of sight,
Their sudden movement a delight!
Whilst the Sumatran Tigers perhaps pad around, or maybe play out of sight,
I can't hide the excitement within,
I'm bubbling with happy might!
As the Keepers set up various enrichment (I think), presents,
I'd been so looking forward to today's birthday event!
Happy Birthday, Susu, Ketambi and Marni,
How lucky we've been to have these three gorgeous tiger cub triplets,
How fortunate it feels observing these beautiful siblings in serene snippets!
Blink and you'll miss it,
The passage of time,
It's standing here on unceded ground at Adelaide Zoo, on this very special day of celebrations,
That I compose this rhyme!”
©️ Brooklyn Saliba, 21st December, 2023.
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Poetry & Prose 📖✍️
Poetryjust a place for some whimsical poetry & prose, I hope these words bring you some enjoyment, thank you so much for reading my words, from LGBTQIA+, to the ethereal wonder in nature & animals, to everything in between! ☺️✨️📖✍️
