Siberian Tiger
He wasn't immediately visible
to us at the zoo
Ensconced in his concrete
square lair
He deigned "finally"--
to give us a sight of him.
With measured weaving steps
magnificent feline
in the freezing Siberian
winter
yellow and white striped
master of sun and snow
red blood predator
of the dark.
Now on his grubby brown patched
square cloth of space
he takes mincing steps
slowly pacing as if he's not sure
what he's looking for--
Oh, ancestral memories;
coursing through vein & spleen
what images of predatory runs,
supplicants' mating screams,
the way the frozen game
was dragged through the ice
to the familiar lair...
Living in the zoo
guarantees a daily meal--
(Lassitude)--
While in Siberia
the oil fires burn--
unrelenting fate
of magnificent
Tyger, Tyger, burning bright.
Copyright (C) Erika Horn, 2006. All rights reserved.