The Tiger's Eye

A Poem by Burning Bright

Why, why the tiger’s eye?

Said the Jackal to the Crow,

Up above and down below,

This you fear and this I know

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Little Jackal, said the Crow,

Such a question, such a show,

This is simple from on high,

Track the trinkets in the sky,

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Then you’ll see that this is why,

All beasts fear the tiger’s eye

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Why, why the tiger’s eye?

Said the Jackal to the Doe,

Ask the fliers and they lie,

This you fear and this I know

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Little Jackal, said the Doe,

Such a question, such a show,

This is simple from the ground,

Where hunting things with teeth are found

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Linger here and find out why,

All beasts fear the tiger’s eye

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Why, why the tiger’s eye?

Said the Jackal to the Man,

All you hunters plot and plan,

Help me answer if you can

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Little Jackal, said the Man,

Last I saw, your shadow ran,

Just the same as them or I,

Beasts below or wings on high

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Surely then, if shadows fly,

Jackals fear the tiger’s eye

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Why, why the tiger’s eye?

Said the Jackal to the Girl,

Here you’ve fallen, here you lie,

Why not struggle? Why not try?

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Shifty Jackal, said the Girl,

Listen closely, stop and slow,

As the twists and vines unfurl,

Turn around and soon you’ll know,

Soon you’ll have nowhere to go,

Play your games, reap and sow,

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Feel the fear that passes by,

As truthful things don’t wonder why,

But things that trick and things that lie,

These should fear the tiger’s eye

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I am nimble, swift and sly,

I’m the Jackal, you’re the fly,

Stuck in amber, trapped and caught,

To me, you are the sorry lot

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Little Jackal, said the Girl,

Here you’ve lingered, here you’ve teased,

Played your games and all for naught,

Kept the air of one most pleased

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Could have left me, passed me by,

Instead, you’ll know as well as I,

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Why you should fear the tiger’s eye

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