I’m the Lion in Your Life
Ode to the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing
©Jason Klassi
I walk the night on mountain ridge high above the sea.
I sense your smells, sounds and souls from below in sparkling cities.
When the sun comes up and alarms do ring, you begin your daily spree.
I disappear in the darkest canyon, deep where no one sees.
Now I may live in a hidden world, but do not misconstrue.
Along your trails you won’t see me, but I’m quietly watching you.
I don’t want to scare or hurt, but you control my fate.
Please you tall Two-Legged Ones, open your eyes before it’s too late.
To survive we need to spread our seed from valley to windy ridge.
Every lion has the right to live, love and die
and cross over liberty canyon bridge.
I’m the lion in your life.
I’m your wildness to explore.
I’m each breath you take while making love.
I’m the heartbeat of your soul.
Sometimes you crush my flesh and bones on freeways that surround.
Sometimes you capture and collar me and hunt me down.
Well, I may be the roar-less lion but I will never be tamed.
Please don’t fall prey to your own demise playing your own selfish game.
Pesticides are genocide and trophy skins are the end of my kind.
Let’s find a way to co-exist in harmony for all time.
Now we don’t have to interact but we each need room to roam.
Set aside your fears and let’s share this place that we can both call home.
To survive we need to spread our seed from valley to windy ridge.
Every lion has the right to live, love and die
and cross over liberty canyon bridge.
I’m the lion in your life.
I’m your wildness to explore.
I’m each breath you take while making love.
I’m the heartbeat of your soul.
“I’m the Lion in Your Life” is a poem written by Jason Klassi and inspired by the pumas he photographs in the Santa Monica Mountains. Photograph and poem ©Jasonklassi