the great striped one is dead.
he held his head high,
matched each stare with his own.
paced back and forth
in his steely prison.
prided himself on strength and agility.
possessed a haughty look.
heir of royal heirs.
his dream of roaming the fishing shores of Pattaya lost.
a lone pug mark on Bangkok
unprotected by the spirit
of Kao Sam Muk.
the mighty Bengal,
who once wounded trees
with retractable talons,
marking his territory
taken down in his prime,
by fowl
unawares.