"Remembered Ones"

Shakespeare, son of Flower and Zaphod, was born on November 8, 2002, along with Mozart, Einstein and Freud; all of the Whiskers family.

I made very few entries dedicated to Shakespeare and, however, he was one of the most faithful Meerkats in when the Mob needed him.
In his first year (March 18, 2003), he lost one of his brothers, Freud.
But Shakespeare lived enough to take care of many young Meerkats; the long list included Monkulus, Armantia Ditch, Zarathustra, Mitch, Cruise and Jogu.
One day an enemy group attacked the Whiskers and took the little Mitch to leave him in the open, but soon it was Shakespeare who found and took him back to the security of their burrow.
On November 23, 2004, he was one of the brave Meerkats who cornered a Puff Adder Snake... Being bitten in face and leg. But some days later he was recovered from the venom and ready to continue his babysitting of newborns.
When Flower gave birth to Petra, Macchu Pichu, Ningaloo and Popkat, he was there to take care of the babies every time their mother was out to forage.
Staying always with Flower and Zaphod, Shakespeare kept doing his main job, and when some Meerkats of her group rejoined the Whiskers -Flower giving birth to Flo, Kim and Finn-, he babysat them as well.
But one day the Lazuli attacked their burrow; Shakespeare first protected the young Meerkats. After the Whiskers chased the enemies away, he disappeared and left his life on March 11, 2005.

Here are three pictures brought to remember him better, especially with the third.

"Two Princes And One Flower"

For this entry, as you'll see immediately, I used an ancient and very well known ballad; or at least, the form. In this case, the song tells of when Youssarian and Zaphod met Flower, to build later the Whiskers Mob.

Anyway, here it is... Hope you enjoy it, then.


There lived a Lady in some desert land.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
She had the greatest law in her hands.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

Sometimes the Flower, sometimes the Rose.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
But always mother and Queen for us.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

Her star shone brighter since she was born.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
She just got stronger being left alone.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

Two Meerkat Princes then found her way,
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
but only one could share her days.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

Would you please, fair Lady, be my wife?
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
Say yes and you'll have the happiest life.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

But I can give you a hoard of dreams
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
turning to children in every Spring.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

And so the other Prince had to wait.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
Yet marry that Queen was his real fate.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

He won her heart to stay by her side.
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
Of great Kings now he had the pride.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

A dinasty with his wife he made
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
that ne'er in centuries would fade.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

She was the biggest Queen by own right,
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
and he was Zaphod his valiant Knight.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

This royal couple would always stand
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
just like the rock lying beneath the sand.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

When face to face with black death she was,
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
she surely left bleeding her nose.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

And now that Flower will always stay
-Feel the warmth of the morning Sun-
in Zaphod's arms till the end of days.
Fa, la la la la, la la la la la.

"Castle In The Desert"

Zaphod, in his life as a ruler in the land of sands.

I'd like to have a picture of him

through all the Centuries,

and always with that King

on the top of the World,

For that's what he deserves to be honored daily.

"Castle In The Desert"

Sorry for the very long delay... There were problems about Blogger and I didn't know where to keep updating my work.


Now, to something much better: This song-like little poem goes -as I use to do- with the music of a song that I like so much. In this case, "Love is", by Jon and Vangelis.
If you want to follow it better, here's the URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNlwKr0liHg&feature=related

And the verses are sung by Zaphod, right when he knows the final came to him but somehow knows that the Flower he loved so much will be there, waiting like she always did.

Flower, please hear
the fading voice of this King
going to find your open arms
and have at last the rest I need
that you alone can give...

Long time ago
it seems to me
since you're gone
to find beyond Earth
your way to Heaven.

Days of foraging
full of adventure
seem so forgotten
like our lost childhood,
but in our meeting
we will remember them.

We built a kingdom
strong as our marriage...
Now I can tell you
that our empire
didn't fade away
after you gave your life for us.

My loving Flower,
guide me to your heart
between the million stars...
Just then we'll conquer
some new world for us...
King and Queen, as one.

"Castle In The Desert" - Farewell, Zaphod!!!

Oh, Great King... I can't believe that I didn't even knew about your final moment.
You left in March, then; and what picture will I keep now, of you?
Only this one, I hope...

Have you seen Flower already? For there are so many flowers in front of your eyes, Zaphod.
Or are they stars? It doesn't matter so much, anyway.
Those are only empty words, now.
What's really important is what you can have: an invisible, but very big, Kingdom for you and the loving wife who lived by your side here on Earth.

Farewell, Great King Of Sands And Meerkats!
Never Forget What You Gained By Yourself!!!

"Wlidest Dreams"

This is what many millions in the whole world were waiting!!!
A new series of movies, directed by no one else but Youssarian (sometimes in association with Zaphod), to delight his old followers who loved him through Meerkat Manor, with what he already called "The successful foraging" of the season.

(edited today; it had to be "Manor" instead of "Mayer").

Special - "Manor Meerketplace"

It's another normal day
in the Manor Meerketplace...
The Chocolate-Covered-Scorpions
are ready to be enjoyed.

Flower's tent is full of bugs...
Crunchy Scarabs, juicy worms.
For everyone in the desert
knows that all she makes is good.

Over there, of course, is Zaphod
with his new Obedience School;
on the other hand, Youssarian
selling Beetles warm or cool.

Needless to ask about Mozart...
There's no nursery like hers;
and all in the Kalahari
will take their children to her.

If you want to look much prettier
-and make boys go crazy as well-,
visit Tosca's Grooming Parlour,
you'll be soon the fairest girl.

Now if you just need protection
or maybe a good advice,
an expert is always waiting
right there, in the tent of Mitch.

You'll always spend happy days
in the Manor Meerketplace...
And whatever you may need
a smile will shine in your face.

"Castle In The Desert"

Zaphod, in one

of his latest pictures...

That's how I want him to die when his day had come...

Like a baby, so sweetly;

And stay there as if standing proud. Like the King he still is.

But what can be the King dreaming in that picture?

Well, what else, but himself flying on a Golden Scorpion?

"Castle In The Desert"

For the King who reached his eleventh year

in the hard and so dangerous Kalahari.

Happy Birthday, Great King!!!

"Castle In The Desert"

Just another song I could write for the Meerkat King.


Have you seen there, the Knight of the Flower?
In the desert that he knows so well?
He still stands tall, as if facing the Sun
with his eyes that remind you the storm.

His hands may be strong as Oak-Trees
and with them he can build an empire...
And his heart is in fire
when he's ready for war,
but it's like spring in days of love.

If he raised his hand,
everyone was ready
to enjoy a rest, or fight for him...
So he gained his throne
through a thousand battles,
and his wisdom by reading the sand.

A great King of his land,
and Knight of the Flower,
the best diamond in his own big crown.
Have you seen that Lord
full of Meerkat wisdom?
Standing proud there, the Knight of his Rose?


As I use to do, the verses can go -in this case- with the music of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX07j9SDFcc

"Castle In The Desert"

(Short, but maybe not for so long).

I am very happy coming here to say that the great King of the Kalahari is still alive... If he lived already only a year over the average age for Meerkats, then anyway our King should be considered a very special person in his own environment. Even a Patriarch, or an Elder.

"Castle In The Desert"

The King With Darwin

The Good Watcher

With Monkulus Pregnant

Thanks, always, to Kalahari Meerkat Project

"Castle In The Desert"

The desert Sun has passed again
and He received a thousand names,
but none like yours.
He may yet live a million years,
but we'll remember you instead,
our wise, brave king.

Zaphod, King
of our desert dreams...
Shining like the gold
of your age.
Being elder,
feeling wiser.
Your place won't change,
your strength won't fade.

Now from the big throne of your years
you watch that Sun and you don't blink
-He looks so weak-.
The time may seem like grains of sands,
but you'll remember to the end
the day she came.
Great King,
you should wear right now
a scepter for your perfect Reign;
a crown of stars.

Being older,
feeling stronger.

The sands might break,
the Sun might fade,
and still you'd stay
like a memory
made of stone.
Great King Zaphod,
don't stop ruling
in your Desert
through long, long years.


The music is that of the song "White queen (As it began).

"Castle In The Desert"

>>>>>Notes / Pictures, from the KMP<<<<<


Zaphod may be the oldest Meerkat in the population by years, and the oldest male in the project history... But he's far from being doddery! He's the undisputed dominant male of the Aztecs, and stands his ground when they are attacked by another group, but he also knows to let things happen when his niece and dominant female of the Aztecs, Monkulus, sneaks off with a rover... The King of the Kalahari has become a top notch babysitter showing great vigilance over his family.

>>>>> Charge! ( In His Best Days ) <<<<<

>>>>>> Reflexions... ( In His Elder Days, With 10 Ys ) <<<<<

Experienced as he is, he doesn't need to spend the entire day digging; his foraging is very efficient, and often crowned by the really succulent prey like scorpions and lizards. So Zaphod is still a very heavy male (about 870g) and is in good condition at the moment. Suggestions to smuggle him a bit of extra egg for his birthday will probably not even be very much appreciated by him... Right now there is a lot of food around and he isn't really fond of egg anyway. This doesn't mean though that his human friends in the KMP don't celebrate his birthday... Zaphod was born on December 9th, 1998, to Vivian VVF001 in a litter of three including his sometimes quirky brother and co-star on Meerkat Manor, Yossarian.

Also in the litter was a female named Rapunzel, who lived with her family for about three years and then disappeared as many subordinate females do.

The Kalahari’s patriarch was named after a main character in the popular novel "Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy": the Galaxy's president, "Zaphod Beeblebrox".

A star in his own right, Zaphod the Meerkat has set a new record. He has lived to the ripe old age of 10.
Quite extraordinary for a male Meerkat who fought many hard battles to retain his dominance at the large Whiskers group and survive two long hard droughts in his desert homeland.

After the loss of his long time partner, Flower, he decided to rove but figured out that life was too hard as a rover and he settled with the Aztecs, one of the splinter groups of the Whiskers headed by his niece, Monkulus.

Congratulations to your birthday, Zaphod, may you reign for many more years!

"A New Series!!!"

These are images from a very special series,

as of cards produced by Wizards of the Coast.

I guess I did get first than them, because they

-as soon as they find an appropiated topic-,

call the illustrators and make a whole expansion

with a certan theme... In this case, I chose both the theme

and the name most appropiated that could have

the new series of special cards:

Meerkadian Masques...

"Castle In The Desert"

But maybe much more of us sent a thought to him...

The greatest King of the Kalahari.

"Castle In The Desert"

...And He Will Always Want To Rejoin

The Love Of His Life,

Queen Of His Heart,

And Heaven For His Soul.

"Castle In The Desert"

The new Zaphod, going under the sadness of the Moon, and the dream of his Rose

"Castle In The Desert"

The lines and strophes are the same length than that of a song in german made by Richard Tauber, but without the music -I must say a little sad for I don’t know the name of that song-, it looses all its dramatic effect in each line.

Love Song From Zaphod (to Flower).

You were my Morning Sun...
You were my Guiding Star...
Through all these years.
Now you’ve become the sand,
this very sand I feel,
under my feet,
and when I touch you somehow
with both my hands,
thinking I’ll find your heart
(there...).
Even the brightest days
seem to me cold and dark,
like starless nights.

Now time feels so long and so worthless,
my life seems a Fall since you’re gone,
the Sun may appear every morning
but it looks as pale as the Moon,
because in the air of the desert
your spirit turns everything white,
but still there’s your heart shining somewhere
just like trembling shadows of light.

And little fires bring hope,
right when the soul gets lost
in loneliness...
But it’s my hands who need
to reach again your face,
and trying so hard
they just make holes in this sand,
to get to you
thru’ the night that’s below...
My looove!
Yet when my heart get tired
of looking for you in vain,
we’ll join... At laaast!!!

"Castle In The Desert"

Zaphod in his best days, watching his sweetheart return

...And she's running as fast as possible,

as if to dive into his arms