The Paper Tiger and the Princess

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JLHunter
Senior Member

since 2006-10-08

Posts 557
CA United States

0 posted 2006-10-25 02:54 AM

The Paper Tiger and the Princess

Long has he toiled, long has he gone.
Long has he journeyed from darkness to dawn.
Covetous musings ruled his day--
Nighttime realities scared them away.

Kingdom of shadows, he ruled alone.
Crown Prince to no one, he surveyed his throne.
Subjects, he has none; so shall it be,
A lone paper tiger for eternity.

Princess of Tigers came by one day,
Taming the animals held in her sway.
Pensive and quiet, yet troubled by turns,
A toothless, aged cat that seethes and burns.

Smiles are hollow--is she friend or foe?
Emotional diatribes oft come and go.
Prince and Princess live worlds apart,
Separated, it seems, by affairs of the heart.

Soon, jungle sounds are colored by rages.
Tigers bound from their emotional cages.
Mindless anger fuels a fight to the death,
As warm, fetid jungle meets hot tiger breath.

While mindless strangers wander and wonder,
Seeking to quiet the snarls and thunder.
Still, the claws find their mark with guile or skill.
The fierce fight rages on as each seeks the kill.

The Paper Tiger, wounded, is rent to electrons,
A Stick Man humbly trimming electric lawns.
Daylight and night all meld into one.
Meaningless, gibbering, he is undone.

In silence he wakens, in darkness he’s born,
The Prince in a land of Stick Men and scorn.
Still, long will he toil, long will he stay,
Guiding other stick men from way on to way.

His anger now spent he takes by the horns--
Mired in ignorance--his kingdom of thorns.
Prowling dark heavens, he searches for sages.
And the old Tiger’s journey is lost to the ages.

I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires. -Khalil Gibran

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

1 posted 2006-10-25 03:06 PM

An enjoyable read. So many paper tigers, so many stick men, but so few sages.

The Lady
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-12-26

Posts 7634
The Southwest

2 posted 2006-10-25 04:07 PM

exquisitely written
greatly enjoyed...

seraphin
Senior Member

since 2000-09-24

Posts 1004
Michigan

3 posted 2006-10-25 04:16 PM

So many wondrous images, so many quotable lines. So much to love about this. You are wonderful in your musings.

Sandra

JLHunter
Senior Member

since 2006-10-08

Posts 557
CA United States

4 posted 2006-10-25 06:26 PM

Hi, Midnitesun.

My thoughts exactly. And I felt sorry for the paper tiger. He was living on instinct, and only doing what came naturally the best that he knew how, but technology exiled him to his dark Purgatory where he would be king.

Thanks for reading.

John

I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires. -Khalil Gibran

JLHunter
Senior Member

since 2006-10-08

Posts 557
CA United States

5 posted 2006-10-25 06:29 PM

Thanks, TL.

I was reliving old nightmares. That paper tiger was once me...

John xo

I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires. -Khalil Gibran

JLHunter
Senior Member

since 2006-10-08

Posts 557
CA United States

6 posted 2006-10-25 06:30 PM

Hi, Sandra.

I was in a musing mood that day! You are kind in your praise, and for that I thank you.

John xo

I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires. -Khalil Gibran

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