Tuesday, July 7, 2026

The Tiger Who Lost his Stripes

 I am a beast,

atleast, that's what my mother tells me,

to stalk and ambush prey,

that is my destiny.


My father is strong,

he captures and hunts with ease,

yet however hard I try,

it's him I can't please.


My brothers and sister,

so quick on their feet,

My mother is proud,

expectations that I could never meet.


My hearing ain't sharp,my canines too short,

my excuses, to which my parents call fool,

I can't help but agree,

a bad blacksmith always blames his tool.


Yet, they don't see,

I truly have been dealt a bad hand,

I sometimes pray,

to run away from this wretched land.


The time had arrived,

for me to prove my worth,

Oh, great heavens,

I curse this birth.


My father guides,

to choose prey, to set my eye,

Its a tough tough world,

the prey or I to die.


I chase,

as fast as I can,

to catch my prey,

I have no backup plan.


Yet I stumble,

on my face, I fall,

my prey informing his kin, 

about my call.


I can feel my parents disappointment,

my sibling, berate and hiss,

Oh dear god,

how could I ever miss.


My face bloodied,

I can hear their sighs,

I'm filled with shame,

I can't meet their eyes.


My streak abandons me,

I can't even protest,

however, I beg and cry,

survival of the fittest.


So, I'm alone,

with no one to call my own,

my family doesn't know,

to shreds, my heart, they've torn.


I'm a tiger,

who has lost his stripes,

I'm a tiger,

whose tears no one wipes


The Tiger Who Lost his Stripes

 I am a beast, atleast, that's what my mother tells me, to stalk and ambush prey, that is my destiny. My father is strong, he captures a...