The Tiger

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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.

© Wilcox Ella Wheeler