Tiger, Tiger

Today was International Tiger Day, and this poem written a few months ago, is dedicated to the Tiger.

Tiger, Tiger

 

 

Tiger, oh Tiger of majestic might

Foraging in forests, feeding on prey

Striking terror in the hearts of men

Hunted by poachers, at their peril

Oh, you emperor of the jungle

How I shudder at your size

How I tremble at your ferocity

Tiger, oh Tiger of invincible muscle

Hunting for deer, for herbivores

Drinking from jungle ponds and rivers

You are unrivalled by lions, by leopards

 

Oh, you emperor of the jungle

How I tremble, lest we should meet

How I shiver with fear of death

If I came too close to your den

Yet Tiger, oh Tiger so ferocious

There is no hatred in my heart

Behind these feelings of fear

Tiger, oh Tiger of majestic might

Please roam the forests until twilight

 

Author's Note

The second stanza is somewhat smaller because I wanted to avoid being too wordy. Please let me have feedback if possible on the use of say, poetic tools you may notice.

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

No two animals excite more awe than the great white shark and the tiger. The speaker in this offering reflects that awe, along with an admission of fear. But there is no hatred of the tiger. They are just magnificent hunters, living the only way they know how. Hopefully mankind will allow them to survive.