March of the Stegosaurs

    by Snipe

Bring forth
the mallet and the drum
that we may call out a rhythm
as steady as their own

The ground shakes
and leaves rain-
signs of their approach
advancing
upon every town across our Island home

You feel it
before you hear it
and you hear before it's seen

The striding stomp
of mountains grand-

The March of the Stegosaurs

At dawn the giants rise
to prepare for this awaited day
their human friends and partners
gather round to prepare-

To paint their scales
in vibrant shades
and drape garlands of shells and beads
around their necks
with honey and goldleaf
their dorsal plate adorned-
while large bells are attached to their tails

All this preparation
takes place away from town
when all are satisfied
the humans head back home-
there to be greeted by an anxious crowd
awaiting the event

All sit silent
Ears and Eyes
alert for any sign
When suddenly-
A tiny rumble stirs the air
Another
and stronger still
Until-

There!
over that rise
they stand tall
in perfect rows of pride
And then
they give they clan cry-
>CLACKCLACK<
by relaxing and flexing the muscles
on their back
the Stegosaurs slap together
the plates along their spines-

A Thunder Clap that echoes
and carries across The Island
this signals the drum corps
who rattle off a returning call

This language of percussion
continues as the giants advance
on the town

All the while
below the >CLACK< of dorsal plates
and the >BOOM< of the kettle drum
there lies a deeper sound-
the thump of the mighty feet
of the Stegosaurs
Slow and Steady
never breaking pattern

This rhythmic march
timed by The Island's own Heartbeat
the cadence passed along
from the marching Saurians
to their Human friends and beyond-
Until
for just one moment
every living thing upon The Island
shares the same Heartbeat

This is the Stegosaurs power
and gift to all that live on
but not within
The Island

A perfect instant of complete connection
to all Life-

As quickly as it came
the moment passes
with a >CLACK<

The humans look around
bewildered
some of the older ones smile-
like a Stegosaur.

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