1. The vibrant strength of the tiger with
bouncing speed
Behind
these iron bars, I never found;
Where is the royal gait of the lion with
roaring sound?
Where is the staggering leap of the pard on
the mead?
Where is the grazing mule and the nimble
striped steed?
No merry cries of swinging baboons I hear
No free winged creatures twitter with cheer.
2. Where is the leaping joy in pretty deer’s
eyes?
Where is the defiant strength of tusker gone?
No wild thickets and trees greet them in morn:
Where is the zeal in wild fowl’s cries?
No light of freedom in their tired looks
shone;
No dancing pea-cocks and no leaping fawn;
No smell of wild blooms with fresh dew adorn.
3. No more can they run swift, hunt and catch
hold
Of the prey or roam free
over vales and flowing rills
No more can they flex
their muscles and hunt with thrill;
No more can they join their
free roaming comrades bold;
They lost their vigor,
strength and hunting skills;
They have to live like
convicts in their narrow cells
They felt like angels pushed down into gloomy hell.
4.
The crocodiles in muddy pools in listless sleep
The parrots in cramped cages flutter
and sadly cry;
No more the eagle with his wide-spread
wings can fly;
The furry bears in made-up dark caves
desolate peep;
The coiled serpents in cramped spaces
seem to sigh;
The colourful winged creatures stay in
dormant state
The panthers with angry looks growl
with hate.
5. They
live with no glint of hope in their eyes;
Like waxen figures with no dynamic spirit;
They lost their natural ways of life and
not fit
To dwell in forests with their instincts
wise;
No more can they feel the tight grip and
grit
The thrill of killing their prey with
speed and might.
Why should they live like captives for others’ delight?
6. Some puny human creature throws some chunks
of meat
Why should they be deprived of their rights?
Why should they suffer in narrow cages
day and night?
Why should they suffer in cages in
sweltering heat;
Is this the right way our
fellow-creatures to treat?
Nature’s intimate touch surely, they
miss;
What fault have they done to suffer
like this?
7. Why should we deprive them of their right
to be free?
Why should we deprive them of their
sylvan domain?
Why should we cage them for our
pleasure and gain?
Why should we go on capturing and
hunting spree?
Why should we destroy the trees and
grassy plain?
Let man be safe-sheltered in his
barred cage
And from distance these wild creatures, gaze.
8. In their natural habitat let us watch
The wild creatures running, leaping
and flying free;
Their god-gifted skills and movements
let us catch
In our cell-phones with no guilty
feelings with glee;
Without hurting them but admiring
their ways;
These lovely creations, let us
protect always.
****************************
Note : This poem is written in Rhyme Royal stanzaic form
with a slight variation in rhyme scheme. This poetic form
with seven lines was first used by Geoffrey Chaucer with
the rhyme scheme (ABABBCC) in his long poem
"Troilus and Criseyde” (1380) and later in Parlament of
Foules”(1381-1382). I have made a slight variation in
rhyme scheme as: ABBABCC. Chaucer derived this
form from the French Ballad. It was called Rhyme Royal
because it was first used by King James I of Scotland in
the 15th century in his poem,“King’s Quair.”
William Shakespeare used this poetic form in his poem:
"The Rape of Lucrece” and William Morris in his poem,
“Earthly Paradise.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
17th July, 2023 Somaseshu Gutala
.jpg)
