Nuits Balneaires, Ode to Two Hyenas (Artist Instagram)
Stunted heads plunge into carcasses,
their backs spackled black. & an
unmistakable chortle ejects from
apish mouths. Yellowing eyeteeth
& dried slather dangle from their
sibilant maws during this symphony
of overeating and vocalizing.
Follow the hyena’s bumpy, phonetic map:
they blather in glottal stops & the click
of consonants. A higher pitch for fear,
& softer grunts for cubs. A rallying whoop
for feeding & giggles on a loop
for any ruckus. Don’t forget
the growling vowels & the timbre
of their almost-syllables.
A cackle will always have
their glossary for survival;
their argot supports their bravado.
Note: Both hyenas survived the post-election crisis by feeding on rotten bread.