Animal
The world is a jungle. The landscape might have changed all right. The pristine mountains replaced by towering scrapers. Have those that dwell in these quarters changed in any way. From a behavioral perspective I think not.
As I look around me I realize that I am largely surrounded by sheep. Innocent souls herded around for the wool that they produce. One day they will probably get slaughtered for their meat, or worse still let loose on their own in the wild once they have served their purpose. They are all around. I feel their presence most in the canteen; especially when I go there alone. Chattering, braying, laughing, bleating and cursing. Oh yes every lamb knows he or she is being slowly slaughtered and hates the inevitable fact. Destiny it seems has this existence earmarked for them and provides solace. When surrounded by sheep am either a sheepdog or me roaming in sheep clothing. Convenient the 2nd option at times. It really doesn’t matter to these creatures. Anyone who is not a sheep is God.
Are the sheep alone? You can bet your bottom dollar that they aren’t. Easy meat and no predators? We are talking about a jungle, not a resort. The most common of these are the Hyenas. Sharp teeth, a strong jaw line and slinking heads. Recognizable by their ability to bark down the sheep and constantly scrap amongst themselves. Can hunt in packs, but typically operate alone while taking advantage of numerical backing (good to have insurance). The pack solidarity is visible when dealing with a superior species. They have no territory and swear no allegiance. Every marriage is one of convenience. Every hyena harbors a secret desire to break away and possibly rule the pack. Muzzle them in your presence else you will come away scarred.
Hippos, Giraffes, Zebra. Accomplished sheep if you ask me. Each of these creatures have been able to capitalize (albeit unknowingly) on some characteristic / utility that has made them too big to hunt down easily. Doers these entities are. Good for crossing rivers, vision in a telescopic sense or ability to keep running if nothing else. Team players to the core. Sheep adulate and hyena respect them for what they can do. Very good for the sheep. Probably hate hyenas, know how to recognize them. Can deal with hyenas individually, but may falter if confronted by a pack. Me likes to make such fellows believe that we are one of a kind. Always works.
Lions believe they are kings. They probably are in their domains and these majestic cats suffer most cause of their clearly defined boundaries. Few and far in between these rulers. Like most rulers they believe that they are completely in charge, but are rarely aware of ground realities. Hunt they most certainly can, but prefer ready meals. Hunt they do and the beneficiaries mostly are hyenas (undeservingly). While the kill is necessary it has its share of victims (sheep, hippo, Zebra, Giraffe?). The lion knows this and accepts it as law of the Jungle. The Lion is at his pinnacle and does not know life beyond being a lion. Advise, respect and occasional flattery all work for me while dealing with them. Always make them believe that that they are making the decisions.
The elephants are the true emperors. They own everything in site. They do nothing. Large and ungainly as they might seem, they have the ability to move with surprising speed and destroy all in their path if they have to. They know all the watering holes and command 1st right of access. The trunkers rarely ever get involved in the doings of sheep, hyena, hippos, zebras and Giraffes (except when personal convenience makes it mandatory). The Lions bow down to them. Their superiority is obvious to all and frankly mostly to themselves. Me has nothing to do with them….yet
Slithering sycophants in the form of snakes are likely to come across your path at every nook and cranny. These deadly vipers will exist in the most unlikely positions. Do not be deceived by their charm. Their interests start and end with themselves and they will strike on anything that stands in their path. Cunning as they are, they maintain proximity to Lions and Elephants. Without doubt they will sting me as they have with thousands of others.
Wherever we may roam. Majestic and charismatic. Good-looking (mostly performance, visual is a typical bonus) and wise, keep our eyes wide open. Aware and honestly apolitical; but aware. Wars we fight and battles if we have to. Fiercely possessive of our territory and all that comes with it, we prefer to roam alone. Unbeatable in packs, we treat each other with healthy mutual respect. No love story this. Come together we will; in crisis; in celebration; to plan; but rarely to execute. Never to the fore unless we have to; and once there surprise ourselves with our speed and resource. Snakes are the only ones who know of our existence and bite us they will. They will also instigate one and all to hunt us. We will bite the bullet, because we can. It takes a silver bullet to bring us down. The Lions have a sneaking suspicion that we exist. The elephants have budgeted for us. For everyone else we are sheep, sheepdog, zebra, giraffe, hippo…
Born to our species, our greatest fear is getting transformed to some other. Age can make Lions of us, perhaps elephants; but neither do we want to be.
An excerpt from Metallica in the black album probably describes us best:
We are wolves. It takes one to know another. Not wolverine, not werewolves. Just wolves.
As I look around me I realize that I am largely surrounded by sheep. Innocent souls herded around for the wool that they produce. One day they will probably get slaughtered for their meat, or worse still let loose on their own in the wild once they have served their purpose. They are all around. I feel their presence most in the canteen; especially when I go there alone. Chattering, braying, laughing, bleating and cursing. Oh yes every lamb knows he or she is being slowly slaughtered and hates the inevitable fact. Destiny it seems has this existence earmarked for them and provides solace. When surrounded by sheep am either a sheepdog or me roaming in sheep clothing. Convenient the 2nd option at times. It really doesn’t matter to these creatures. Anyone who is not a sheep is God.
Are the sheep alone? You can bet your bottom dollar that they aren’t. Easy meat and no predators? We are talking about a jungle, not a resort. The most common of these are the Hyenas. Sharp teeth, a strong jaw line and slinking heads. Recognizable by their ability to bark down the sheep and constantly scrap amongst themselves. Can hunt in packs, but typically operate alone while taking advantage of numerical backing (good to have insurance). The pack solidarity is visible when dealing with a superior species. They have no territory and swear no allegiance. Every marriage is one of convenience. Every hyena harbors a secret desire to break away and possibly rule the pack. Muzzle them in your presence else you will come away scarred.
Hippos, Giraffes, Zebra. Accomplished sheep if you ask me. Each of these creatures have been able to capitalize (albeit unknowingly) on some characteristic / utility that has made them too big to hunt down easily. Doers these entities are. Good for crossing rivers, vision in a telescopic sense or ability to keep running if nothing else. Team players to the core. Sheep adulate and hyena respect them for what they can do. Very good for the sheep. Probably hate hyenas, know how to recognize them. Can deal with hyenas individually, but may falter if confronted by a pack. Me likes to make such fellows believe that we are one of a kind. Always works.
Lions believe they are kings. They probably are in their domains and these majestic cats suffer most cause of their clearly defined boundaries. Few and far in between these rulers. Like most rulers they believe that they are completely in charge, but are rarely aware of ground realities. Hunt they most certainly can, but prefer ready meals. Hunt they do and the beneficiaries mostly are hyenas (undeservingly). While the kill is necessary it has its share of victims (sheep, hippo, Zebra, Giraffe?). The lion knows this and accepts it as law of the Jungle. The Lion is at his pinnacle and does not know life beyond being a lion. Advise, respect and occasional flattery all work for me while dealing with them. Always make them believe that that they are making the decisions.
The elephants are the true emperors. They own everything in site. They do nothing. Large and ungainly as they might seem, they have the ability to move with surprising speed and destroy all in their path if they have to. They know all the watering holes and command 1st right of access. The trunkers rarely ever get involved in the doings of sheep, hyena, hippos, zebras and Giraffes (except when personal convenience makes it mandatory). The Lions bow down to them. Their superiority is obvious to all and frankly mostly to themselves. Me has nothing to do with them….yet
Slithering sycophants in the form of snakes are likely to come across your path at every nook and cranny. These deadly vipers will exist in the most unlikely positions. Do not be deceived by their charm. Their interests start and end with themselves and they will strike on anything that stands in their path. Cunning as they are, they maintain proximity to Lions and Elephants. Without doubt they will sting me as they have with thousands of others.
Wherever we may roam. Majestic and charismatic. Good-looking (mostly performance, visual is a typical bonus) and wise, keep our eyes wide open. Aware and honestly apolitical; but aware. Wars we fight and battles if we have to. Fiercely possessive of our territory and all that comes with it, we prefer to roam alone. Unbeatable in packs, we treat each other with healthy mutual respect. No love story this. Come together we will; in crisis; in celebration; to plan; but rarely to execute. Never to the fore unless we have to; and once there surprise ourselves with our speed and resource. Snakes are the only ones who know of our existence and bite us they will. They will also instigate one and all to hunt us. We will bite the bullet, because we can. It takes a silver bullet to bring us down. The Lions have a sneaking suspicion that we exist. The elephants have budgeted for us. For everyone else we are sheep, sheepdog, zebra, giraffe, hippo…
Born to our species, our greatest fear is getting transformed to some other. Age can make Lions of us, perhaps elephants; but neither do we want to be.
An excerpt from Metallica in the black album probably describes us best:
nomad vagabond
call me what you will
but I'll take my time
anywhere
free to speak my mind anywhere
and I'll redefine anywhere
anywhere I may roam
where I lay my head is home
...and the earth
becomes my throne
I adapt to the unknown
under wandering stars I've
grown
by myself but not alone
I ask no one
We are wolves. It takes one to know another. Not wolverine, not werewolves. Just wolves.
penned by Sanjay at 3:55 PM
1 Comments:
learnt to do the wolf whistle yet??? :-D
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