(audio) PC 1: Night Stalker

The First Panther Cycle (although just "The Panther Cycle" when it was written, I had no sense that there would be 92 more to follow...) was called "Out of the Night" when I slipped it a subtitle. A little all over the place, it was a knee-jerk reaction of a single photo that the Panther had sent me (although that was not her "name" back then...indeed, her screen name on America Online was so ambiguous I did not even know this online friend's gender before that evening!).

A little sing-songy for my tastes, it came thus and I left it thus...and the rest, as they say, is history...

night stalker

in the night.
in the jungle.
in the depths of sad despair.
there's a presence.
in the branches.
you can't see her. but she's there.
watching closely.
taking measure.
are you predator? are you prey?
and if either.
does she leave you?
does she seek to pounce and play?
and if neither.
does she linger?
and then fall. into your trap?
will the hunter.
be the hunted.
when she hears the steeljaw snap?
will she struggle?
or surrender?
will she know. you mean no harm?
understanding.
like the panther.
that this fire can be warm?
it is quiet.
in this jungle.
if you listen. with your soul.
and this silence.
calls the panther.
to protect it. and patrol.


William F. DeVault. all rights reserved.

For more information on the collection of these works, THE COMPLEAT PANTHER CYCLES, being released on July 18th, follow this link