Explore "The Tiger" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
In the still jungle of the senses lay / A tiger soundly sleeping, till one day / A bold young hunter chanced to come that way.
"How calm," he said, "that splendid creature lies! / I long to rouse him into swift surprise. " / The well aimed arrow shot from amorous eyes,
And lo! the tiger rouses up and turns, / A coal of fire his glowing eyeball burns, / His mighty frame with savage hunger yearns.
He crouches for a spring; his eyes dilate -- / Alas! bold hunter, what shall be thy fate? / Thou canst not fly; it is too late, too late.
Once having tasted human flesh, ah! then, / Woe, woe unto the whole rash world of men. / The wakened tiger will not sleep again.