The Lion stakes his claim To the leadership of the pack
But the Antelopes remember The ferocious pounce of his paws
The hyena says the crown is made for him But the Impalas shudder at his lethal appetite
The Giraffe craves a place in the front But his eyes are too far from the ground
When the Zebra says it’s his right to lead The pack points to the duplicity of his stripes
The Elephant trudges into the power tussle But its colleagues dread his trampling feet
The warthog is too ugly The rhino too riotous
And the pack thrashes around Like a snake without a head
“Our need calls for a hybrid of habits”, Proclaims the Forest Sage,
“A little bit of a Lion A little bit of a Lamb
Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake
A leader who knows how to follow Followers mindful of their right to lead (c) Niyi Osundare
TheLionstakeshisclaim
Totheleadershipofthepack
ButtheAntelopesremember
Theferociouspounceofhispaws
Thehyenasaysthecrownismadeforhim
ButtheImpalasshudderathislethalappetite
TheGiraffecravesaplaceinthefront
Buthiseyesaretoofarfromtheground
WhentheZebrasaysit’shisrighttolead
Thepackpointstotheduplicityofhisstripes
TheElephanttrudgesintothepowertussle
Butitscolleaguesdreadhistramplingfeet
Thewarthogistoougly
Therhinotooriotous
Andthepackthrashesaround
Likeasnakewithoutah
SIMILAR POEM:
Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti is a poem similar to “The Leader and the Led”. Both poets are Nigerians belonging to the Yoruba ethnic.
In a metaphorical manner, Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti buttressed the prevailing hardship and insecurity in a given community as a result of bad governance; dwellers were left with nothing but helplessness and hopelessness.
The characters in the poem “Ambush” are animals such as giant whale, sabre tooth tiger, etc.
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