A tiger in the wood

I wandered about in a veiled wood

Then lay me down on broken leaves

To embrace a tiger

Tiger’s eyes shone bright with fire

Saying to me

Child you are all burning

Flesh aflame

All alone in this woodland

Walk with me

As you do

Remember this

You are finding a lost part of yourself

I who have waited patiently

Trailing you in silence all of your days

Now call you away from the circus

 

Tiger’s eyes then cried

His tears were liquid rain

I thought

Here he goes watching and waiting

He is shedding all my fears

For I am a straight jacket

Braced tight against the world

Breast forever burning

With a wanting for the dance

That terrified me

Hungering in that way

For my soul to be set free

By neon fire

Burning up all my wanting

Gazing with sorrow on a world I do not understand

Wanting so much more

So yes tiger

When I open my eyes

Let it be your presence that I see

Let it be your fire

That sets me free

From this circus