Landshape

Giant Anteater
by Jeter Skeet

Landshape, the physics

of curves and parabolas carved 

by wind and rain—

Landshape, grassy highland savannas south of the Amazon jungles in Brazil,

A giant anteater

licks her way across what was 

once a lush pastureland.

Through binoculars, a local guide spots her for visitors from foreign lands.

The Landshape sings a 

subconscious siren song in

dry photographers,

a lullaby for the newborn riding side-saddle on his mother’s back.

The baby bounces riding 

across the Landshape, scalloped by 

treeless hills and deep ravines.

The distance is far, further than the leader wishes to walk across an unkempt savanna.  But a promising treasure—pixilated memories of these unique creatures—makes the risk worth the taking.  

The Landshape bathes 

them in winter’s warm sunlight so

near the equator—

and so they begin their journey with hope, and determination, and eyes to the ground.  Dormant grasses hide irregularities along the route.  

For Landshape, time means

little more than the change in

angles of sunlight.

Some photographers stay behind in the van waiting not too patiently for a closer and more cooperative anteater.  Time creeps as their colleagues disappear over the rim. 

The Landshape disguises

their view with tawny grasses

and weedy flowers.

The adventurers stop to find the best place to cross a mercurial ravine.  

Slurries of soil and flowing 

water offer uncertain support  

for shifting mats of grass.

The guide probes and sinks.  He pulls himself toward the opposite side of the ravine while the rest decide whether to venture across or turn and go back.

The Landshape reveals the

anteater working her way toward 

higher ground with ease.

Leaving her camera behind, the leader climbs out of the water onto a small island midway across.

A conveyer belt of 

outstretched arms hand camera gear from

tourists to leader to guide.

On higher ground, a retreating photographer pauses to take videos of the crossings.

The Landshape changes, 

an easy way down into a

strenuous way up.

Those who stayed behind ask, “What happened?”  The videographer prefers to show them the raw footage.

If Landshape could grin

it would look like a ravine buried in grass 

and awash in water.

Giant Anteater with Offspring
by Jeter Skeet