Pulling Teeth (Poetry)

im Cecil — Panthera leo

Pulling teeth was not enough
he had to go in for the kill.
No risk, for others did the dangerous stuff —
made sure the beast was down and lacked the will
to fight. There was no fairness in the sport.
Green Yankee dollars a blood-trophy bought.

Now he’s the one who’s hunted —
frightened into lying low.
The irony’s not lost — his head is wanted
the world over, especially by those who used to know
the monster, grinning sly with his trademark “Open wide ...”
There’s some would like to see him skinned alive.