Tiger

There’s a Tiger in the cupboard
at the bottom of our stairs,
and you’ll get a chance to see him
if you catch him unawares.
If you tiptoe really quiet
and attempt a careful peep,
through the keyhole of our cupboard,
you may find him fast asleep.
When he isn’t feeling hungry
he’s as friendly as can be.
He’ll sit still for simply ages
while I read him poetry.
And I never have to feed him
for I find he’s quite content
Just to snack on bill collectors
or the men who come for rent.
Or on trolls, non-rhyming poets,
and those vacuum cleaner men.
They all disappear completely
and are never seen again.

I asked my friend the Tiger
if perhaps they’d ventured in.
He responded with a knowing wink…

And self contented grin.

Menagerie De Trois

A Tale of Tragedy and Star Crossed Lovers

Millicent Maybelle Mortenson flashed golden yellow eyes,
Rebuffed her Persian suitor; Ignored his feline sighs.
His coat was of the finest silk; His eyes the brightest blue;
But Millie loved another and no other swain would do.

She loved the scruffy tomcat who strode her garden wall
And offered her his symphony in strident caterwaul.
Thomas was an alley cat, his coat a mass of scars;
But he and Millicent made love beneath a thousand stars.

Percy the Persian, wracked with rage and plagued by jealousy,
Bade Millie to behave herself and guard her pedigree.
But Tom, the cross bred tabby had captured Millie's heart;
Together they had pledged their troth and swore they'd never part.

So Percy laid a cunning plan; He found a long dead mouse,
He placed it in the dining room of Millie's owner's house.
Her owner, fraught and anxious made Millicent stand guard;
She could not keep her rendezvous with Tom in her backyard.

Where Percy, sly and cunning had found a water butt;
He sat and sang like Millie until Tom came by, hot foot.
Tom leaped up on the barrel; Slipped on its mildewed rim
Fell in the water cold and deep and that was the end of him.

When Millie heard the awful news, she screamed in deep despair;
Jumped in the waiting water, and that was the end of her.
This was the gist of Percy's plan, that foul aristocat.
If he couldn't have her, no one could, and that was the end of that.

Lament of an Indian maiden.

Oh brother, give me shelter
the tiger stalks tonight.
Throughout this darkened jungle
a fiercesome, frightful sight.

Oh sister, can you hear him;
His voice rings dark and deep.
Such fear invades my senses,
my courage falls asleep

Oh brother, he is coming.
I hear his stealthy paw.
Please save me from his hunger
and open up your door.

Oh brother, I am taken
This monstrous mighty beast.
Now he and I are bonded
to hold our wedding feast.

Alas! I have no dowry
to warm this marriage bed.
Nothing to charm his silent smile.
Oh brother. I am dead.

Tiger on the Prowl

The Tiger flicked his whiskers and he smiled maliciously
He was feeling rather hungry and considering his tea;
His appetite was raging so his heart was filled with joy,
When, with eyesight most splendiferous, he saw a tasty boy.

His stomach growled approvingly. He felt this dark design
that told him indisputably that it was time to dine.
With giant strides he stalked his prey, this striped malicious cad,
 anticipating dinner with a sweetly tender lad.

This little boy was foolish and just would not go to bed.
He preferred his new computer and computer games instead
so it’s very understandable to see it wasn’t hard
to toddle up and catch him, for he wasn’t on his guard.

He wriggled most dejectedly within the Tiger’s claws, 
and he didn’t feel too happy when he saw the Tiger’s jaws,
for the Tiger opened wide his mouth to show his Tiger Teeth
with a Tiger’s tongue that nestled in the cavern just beneath.

“I’ve come to eat you, little lad, I know you think it’s tragic
But you really shouldn’t meddle with a tiger who is magic.”
The boy cried out “It’s very late, I’m only half awake
You’ll find me indigestible, I’ll give you tummy ache.” 

The Tiger pondered for a while. The boy thought ‘Will he buy it?’
The Tiger, by good fortune, had just started on a diet.
He bit a boyish finger and he gave a growl, “OK !
I’ll chew on this awhile, and then I’ll be upon my way.

Just promise me that you will never say another word,
for a splendid child is silent, often seen but seldom heard”

But a boy’s a boy, that’s obvious, and maybe by September
the Tiger will come back again to help him to remember.

Wild Thing

I live in the town or city
Glossy fur and eyes so bright
Fascinating and ferocious
Silken creature of the night.

Listen to the songs I’m singing
You are hearing nature’s call
Love and passion I am bringing
to the females in my thrall.

Stalking through the streets and highways
Full of grace and feline power
On the rooftops or the byways
Ally of the midnight hour.

See my ladies come to meet me
Condescending, smug and fat
When they leave, they’re purring sweetly
I am Tom. The alley cat.

Tyger Tyger Sparkling Bright.

(With apologies to William Blake)

There’s a tiger in my bathroom
Fixing me with feral grin,
Fascinating but ferocious;
Who the Devil let him in ?.

He’s been sitting in my bathroom
Probably at least an hour,
I’ve just come in from the garden
And I’d love to take a shower.

Why is he sat in my bathroom ?
I just haven’t got a clue.
He’s been there for simply ages
And I’m busting for the loo.

There a tiger in my bathroom
Looking smug, complacent : “Stout?”
Hope he hasn’t ate my missus!
Strange! I’ve not seen her about.

Great sharp claws within my bathroom.
Long white teeth, look like they’d hurt.
Licks a morsel from his whiskers.
Hope he doesn’t want dessert.

There a tiger in my bathroom.
He’s been sitting there all day.
I just nurse my stricken bladder,
Nothing else to do or say.

What a friendly little tiger,
That grim smile is just a fake.
He just wants to read my poetry,
Thought that I was William Blake.

Now he’s sitting, quite contented
In his fearful symmetry,
While I sit upon the toilet
Spouting awful poetry.

Soon he stretches mighty muscles,
Stands up, says to me“Good Day!
Sorry that I ate your Missus”.
Then he softly walks away