Stalemate

The symbolism stems from the two tattoos on my now deceased father who struggled deeply with his bipolar disorder.

The owl leered at the panther at the foot of the tree
Where his tail swished as he peered from the corner of his eye
Both waited to see if the other would flee

Neither suspected the other was not free
One could not run, the other could not fly
Still the owl leered at the panther at the foot of the tree

He suspected he was safe if the cat was just lazy
But between them stood a nature the could not defy
Both waited to see if the other would flee

The panther began to bubble and stir with new energy
Though he was condemned to forever lie
As the owl leered at the panther at the foot of the tree

A mouse scurried by to the grumble of a belly
No. Two. But one didn’t run, the other didn’t fly,
For they both waited to see if the other would flee

They stood still, they starved. They were guilty
Of never being bold enough to even once try.
Forever the owl leered at the panther at the foot of the tree
Where both waited to see if the other would flee.