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In some caves, out on an island
In the middle of the sea
About thirteen thousand years ago
Lived some folks like you and me
Well maybe not quite just like you
They lived in caves as I have said
Oh, and they were a bit shorter
A meter long from toes to head
They'd wake up in their caves each day
Decide what they were going to eat
Fish or frogs or birds or snakes
Tasty tortoise was a special treat
Then they'd peek out of their doorway
Looking out for giant rats
Shoo them off into the jungle
Grab their spears, put on their hats
A bunch of friends out for a walk
Watching tracks and smelling scents
Until they find what they'd been seeking
A herd of tiny elephants
Being silent, being sneaky
Hoping dinner is in sight
They leap and chase and jab and catch
An elephant to eat that night
Walking home there is much singing
Planning for the nightly feast
When before them comes a dragon
A giant scaly scary beast
A mighty battle does ensue
The people fight with sticks and stones
The dragon fights with claws and jaws
Capable of crushing bones
At long last the dragon tires
Runs into the jungle deep
No dinner and no life is lost
The elephant is theirs to keep
Back at the caves there is a feast
Campfire glows with orange light
Tales of hunting and of dragons
Carry them into the night
The stars are out, the moon is black
Sultry air with dark-time smells
Dreams will come to all this night
Asleep in giant tortoise shells
Although it was so long ago
Some remember like a ghost
Little people of the jungle
Just like you and me, almost
Just Like You And Me info:
Author: Mike Popovic
Written: 25 May 2005
First Published: 25 May 2005
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Notes:
The idea of doing a story based on the hobbit-like creatures discovred to have lived as recently as 18,000 years ago has been me since the discovery was made in October 2004. Pygmy elephants! Komodo dragons! Everything for a good story was there. I based just about everything on the National Geographic article linked below. While they did have tools, I don't know for sure they had spears, so don't base your history report on it ;)
The theme of "they were just like you and me" came into my head a few weeks before writing the story. It was orginally going to be a more pervasive line, but it ended up just nicely framing the story instead.