Tigers (Poetry)
07th March 2010
In single file they pad across towards me
their massive feet near soundless on the planks
coats flickering with orange-yellow flame marks
tails swishing to the beat as they advance.
The bridge a narrow loop that spans the valley
the gorge below cuts deep and jungle-lush
its haze a humid sweat that rises tainted
green with vegetation newly-crushed.
The tigers come — striped flanks that ripple muscle
eyes that find my flesh and lock their stare
hypnotized I count their marching dozen
the tremble of encounter thrills the air.
They pass — the brush of fur a frozen shiver
the threat of teeth and claws holds me in trance
their musk a wafting sharpness to remember
moving on without a second glance.
They disappear — take dark and secret pathways
as shadows merge — become a waking dream
damp pawprints on the planks dry in a moment
evaporate as though they’ve never been.
their massive feet near soundless on the planks
coats flickering with orange-yellow flame marks
tails swishing to the beat as they advance.
The bridge a narrow loop that spans the valley
the gorge below cuts deep and jungle-lush
its haze a humid sweat that rises tainted
green with vegetation newly-crushed.
The tigers come — striped flanks that ripple muscle
eyes that find my flesh and lock their stare
hypnotized I count their marching dozen
the tremble of encounter thrills the air.
They pass — the brush of fur a frozen shiver
the threat of teeth and claws holds me in trance
their musk a wafting sharpness to remember
moving on without a second glance.
They disappear — take dark and secret pathways
as shadows merge — become a waking dream
damp pawprints on the planks dry in a moment
evaporate as though they’ve never been.