Cheetah

She’s fast
just by looking at her
body design
It’s evident in the way
nature made her
long, thin legs
deep chest for larger lung capacity
black tears down the face
a longer tail to balance and steer

Such a good mother
to cubs who sometimes don’t
make it to adulthood
as she preys so her cubs
become prey
for lions and hyenas
They are stronger than she
this lonely mother
with no help raising offspring

Still neither of these creatures
chirps and purrs
the way cheetah vocalizes
giving the illusion
she’s not as ferocious
as those who roar
or bark