A Tiger in the Zoo by LESLIE NORRIS

3. A Tiger in the Zoo by LESLIE NORRIS

Stanza 1

He stalks in his vivid stripes

The few steps of his cage,

On pads of velvet quiet,

In his quiet rage.

Line-to-line Explanation: The tiger in the zoo walks in the limited space provided to it in the cage. It takes a few steps. There are stripes on its body which are quite prominent (noticeable). Its paws are soft like velvet.  No noise is produced when it walks on its ‘pads of velvet’. The tiger is silent but in rage (anger).

Stanza 2.

He should be lurking in shadow,

Sliding through long grass

Near the water hole

Where plump deer pass.

Word-meanings: plump, lurking

Explanation: Now the poet suggests that the cage is not the proper place for the tiger. It is not its natural habitat. The tiger in the cage is a victim of human cruelty. Usually tigers are found sitting under some bushes or long grass near a stream or water hole. As soon as they see their prey like deer coming there to drink water, they slide silently through the grass and kill them. The poet wants to convey to us that this tiger should be there in the forest, its natural habitat.

 Poetic devices Used: The lines ‘lurking in shadow’, create a word picture of some danger hovering for the animals who come to drink water. Other word pictures are created by the use of words/ phrases like ‘sliding through’ and ‘plump deer’.

Stanza 3.

He should be snarling around houses

At the jungle’s edge,

Baring his white fangs, his claws,

Terrorising the village!

Explanation: In this stanza: The poet proceeds further giving another suggestion that the tiger should be sitting at the jungle’s edge in close vicinity of a village. It should be terrorising the people passing that way by showing its sharp teeth, baring its claws and producing low sound of anger.

Stanza 4.

But he’s locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars,

Stalking the length of his cage,

Ignoring visitors.

Explanation: In this stanza, the poet expresses deep sympathy at the plight (unpleasant situation) of the tiger, that is imprisoned in a cell made of concrete (mixed material like cement, sand, small pieces of stone and water). He cannot come out of it because strong bars fixed at the concrete cell stop him. Thus the poet says that the tiger’s strength is locked behind the bars. The tiger shows no interest in looking at the visitors. Rather, he keeps on stalking (walking in angry and proud manner) in the limited space of the cage.

Stanza 5.

He hears the last voice at night, /The patrolling cars,

And stares with his brilliant eyes /At the brilliant stars.

Word-meanings: Patrolling: moving about to check any danger Brilliant: shining

Explanation: The poet again takes the reader to the cage where the tiger is sitting in the cage and feeling unpleasant and restless. He hears the sound created by the patrolling cars of the zoo authorities. He shows no interest in them. The poet shown him staring at the shining stars with his brilliant eyes.

Thus the poem ends up at the point where it had started.

The poet raises a moral issue here. He intends to present a strong case against the cruelty on animals, which are kept in cages.