Poems of Passion — 70 - The Tiger

[Illustration:] THE TIGER.

In the still jungle of the senses lay A tiger soundly sleeping, till one day A bold young hunter chanced to come that way.

"How calm," he said, "that splendid creature lies!

I long to rouse him into swift surprise."

The well aimed arrow shot from amorous eyes, And lo!

the tiger rouses up and turns, A coal of fire his glowing eyeball burns, His mighty frame with savage hunger yearns.

He crouches for a spring; his eyes dilate-- Alas!

bold hunter, what shall be thy fate?

Thou canst not fly; it is too late, too late.

Once having tasted human flesh, ah!

then, Woe, woe unto the whole rash world of men.

The wakened tiger will not sleep again.