How wretched I am
How much more, do I love the worn tiger
with his patchy coat, and Siberian Scars
I don’t have self-sympathy
it makes me
prey
and less, of a self-righteous predator
Majesty—
is shining off my coat
while I look into the mirror,
unable to prove my worth
my claws, rubbed across rocks
a toothless wild cat
smiling
without fangs
failure, must be known and honed
because my heart pumps for life
even, and most especially, when confronted with death
nature, doesn’t have any sympathy
and the worn tiger, doesn’t want any
he plods along
consumed, by his own consumption
amber eyes
to be fossilized, black flies
the warm abundant life, never known, in the mountains of Siberia
exile, in loneliness
in the greatness that can only be felt like a sin
scoffers and mockers can be heard on the wind
the worn tiger, doesn’t mind
their games, don’t interest him
it is the brutal wish for reality
that forces him above the snowline
Even if, he would obey,
curling-up, outside common houses, without character
he would only be a house cat
a harmless king, without power
walked around the neighborhood, on a leash.
Better to be unfriendly,
unforgiving,
unable to live, if not, in the right way
to die by his own law,
the law of his fathers
Sunsets, of pink fire
before, his last roar
the wolves howling, in the lowlands
while nature prepares
her final course
Worn, but still a tiger
remembered, and forgotten
by men.
Never apologize for greatness. Conceal it, maybe, but never be apologetic about it. My two cents…
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Thanks for your comment Rabih! Very wise words…
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Hey! How do I address you? May I borrow this poem for a poetry workshop? I want to read it out along with William Blake’s The Tyger; to show the contrast in imagery. They both will compliment each other.
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Hi Harshi! You can call me Andy. Of course! I write a blog, so that I can share my poetry with the world! If you are sharing it, I have succeeded! The tyger poem by William Blake is one of my favorites! Thanks for reading, and for your encouraging comments! 🙂
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