The Jungle King

This is the poem I wanted to write since my school days – I was stumped,as a child,to read William Blake at one hand and Reader’s Digest at the other(showing cruelty to tigers);I could never understand how such a glorified animal could be so helpless !!!

The below lines depict the Jungle King’s ire towards the humans.

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“Tiger,Tiger burning bright…”,
Hurts like a long-lost dream,
Against your sinister,cunning might,
Helplessly I scream !

Had you fought me hand-to-hand,
O Man,you would have become my meal,
But hiding and sniping from a safe land,
Like a coward,yet,brave you feel !

On our habitat’s grave your civilization thrives,
Taxidermy you shamelessly flaunt,
Our bodies are worthy than our lives,
Our existence now you haunt !

In whose fear the jungles trembled,
Became a circus showcase,
To a whip my bravery crumbled,
Thanks to your amusement so base !

My skin satiates your royal needs,
My claws are reduced to talismans,
My teeth lose to your wealth greeds,
My genitals serve as aphrodisiac sans !

To Nature you are the biggest abuse,
Incapacitated I lie in the ring,
My strength now is of no use,
Yet I am glorified as the Jungle King !