I wake to the bright clear light
through the walls of the tent, palace
best describes this insubstantial building
I stretch in the soft comfort of my bed
The air smells warm, overlaid by dust and earth
there is a cacophony of noise
chirruping crickets
competing with the soft and raucous sounds of birds
I listen for the sound of animals in the bush
they were active last night but now strangely silent
there is the faint clink of pans and crockery from the cooks
My stomach rumbles, time to start my day of adventure
I get up, my feet caressed
by the animal skin rug and I pause
thinking of the night and the hyena’s jests
Still raising hairs on the back of my neck