• one free verse poem
• one tanka
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•
from rippled sinew black as midnight
bores a stare of molten gold
a furious but calm inferno
searing deep to burn your soul
I watch helpless this panther’s pace
held captive in this foolish zoo
cold eyes rivet snarled contempt
unfathomed pools of quiet rage
on this panther paces paces
turns and paces back he paces
graceful stride of brute resolve
presses on to test the limit
proud this captive soul just paces
frustration turns anger retraces
this brutal prison of false environ
does not fool this mighty beast
observe how he continues pacing
instinct certain this is not home
his piercing gaze fixed well beyond
his suffered fate of cruel confine
see the panther pacing pacing
his nature steeled his spirit strong
relentless sorrow wild longing
drive on and on his constant stride
this will not break his fierce resolve
he tracks freedom he stalks life
imprisoned he will forever pace
and he will pace
and he will die
• • •
•
nature is a dance
transcendent syncopation
rhythmic side by side
but the chorus line falters
humankind is out of step
• • •
…panther image digitally rendered & edited by: rob kistner 2010 — base image source anonymous…
Why…? For zoo I always read prison. So sad – do your time, keep your nose clean… die…
Pathetic and unnecessary…
Your words painted it so well.
And your tanka makes a nice post script, adding extra emphasis to the poem
Your cat unhappily hisses
with those effective esses.
I loved both poems.
“furious but calm inferno” really brings it to life, great work
So sad, so true….fate of cruel refine. I remember as a child having a school project where we observed animals in the zoo and kept track of their sad patterned movements, how they paced the same path over and over again…
Much better to see these creatures in their own environments where we are the captives. Love the panther image and the poem.
Vivid imagery, poignant end.
Rob beautiful piece and so sad at the end. I love the tanka also.
Pamela
Excellent repetition in the first poem. So appropriate.
Powerful! Powerful. You totally put us inside the panther’s confined soul. Really liked these two lines:
“cold eyes rivet snarled contempt
unfathomed pools of quiet rage.”
Another reason to hate zoos.
Thanks, Rob!
great stuff!
~Mark
I like the relationship you establish between beauty and freedom. 🙂
Rob, I met this cat in the Guangzhou zoo about 15 years ago and he went from irritated to slashing crazy with a brief glance. Having met him, I appreciate that your poem understands this creature. Or it could just be a hyperbole of a bold house cat. Either way, well done.
JD Mackenzie
meow meow to the cool cats with their many personalities
“cold eyes rivet snarled contempt
unfathomed pools of quiet rage”
Awesome work!
Hi Rob:
These poems are poignant and beautiful and eloquent. I am completely enthralled and in agreement. I think your depiction of the spirit of the panther is more accurate than the keepers are willing to acknowledge.
Just so powerful!
~ Shari
The panther one makes me sad. 🙁
I really love “Out of Step.” It resonates with me.
Great work, as always!
a blow
Unfortunately Old Grizz must accept the agony and shame of enjoying the caging of these animals. All to late in life did my soul begin to understand the animal. Your poem is awsome even if it does make me feel guilty.
Be they panther, bear, wolf, or even human… to be trapped in a life not loved is tragic.
Just where do we draw a line?