Alpha Male

I startle him, coming up from behind

the wall where he lies on luscious lawn,

lazing in shade, a relief from summer sun.

Quickly rising to his haunches he takes

several bounds to the edge of the swathe.

“Sorry mate” I say automatically,

sorry to disturb him but also

to reassure as he rises to full height,

exposing muscular chest and shoulders.

So unpredictable, they can bound

sideways into your path and knock you off

your bike. He stands still and watches,

not an intelligent gaze, but alert

to my intentions as I pass within

metres of his tall frame. I would hate

to box with him. I’ve seen kids spar

with young ones, fixing gloves to their pet’s paws,

but in the wild they bring claws. Killer blows

delivered by powerful back legs,

raking as they lean back

on their tail. He stays still as I

and my fellow cyclists round the corner,

upright and wary until we all move

out of threatening range.

Rohan Buettel lives in Canberra, Australia. His haiku have appeared in various Australian and international journals (including Frogpond, Cattails and The Heron’s Nest). His longer poetry most recently appears in The Elevation Review, Rappahannock Review, Penumbra Literary and Art Journal, Mortal Magazine, Passengers Journal, Reed Magazine, Meniscus and Quadrant.