Burning Bright
by D. J. Tyrer
Talk of tigers in the night
turns to considerations of light
but who, when the hour is turning late,
would choose a tiger to immolate?
For surely, if in need of light
to chase away the shadows of night,
there are cheaper, simpler sources of fuel
than tigers, as a rule?
Matches, candles, and the sort
are surely better, I would’ve thought
as a source of cheery light
than setting tigers alight?
I have to wonder: Who would choose
to indulge in such tiger abuse
and think that it could be right
a rare big cat to ignite?
So I conclude: it isn’t right
to set tigers burning bright.
turns to considerations of light
but who, when the hour is turning late,
would choose a tiger to immolate?
For surely, if in need of light
to chase away the shadows of night,
there are cheaper, simpler sources of fuel
than tigers, as a rule?
Matches, candles, and the sort
are surely better, I would’ve thought
as a source of cheery light
than setting tigers alight?
I have to wonder: Who would choose
to indulge in such tiger abuse
and think that it could be right
a rare big cat to ignite?
So I conclude: it isn’t right
to set tigers burning bright.