He stalks in his vivid stripes

This poem contrasts a tiger in the zoo with the tiger in its natural habitat. The poem moves from the zoo to the jungle, and back again to the zoo. Read the poem silently once, and say which stanzas speak about the tiger in the zoo, and which ones speak about the tiger in the jungle



He stalks in his vivid stripes

The few steps of his cage

On pads of velvet quiet

In his quiet rage



He should be lurking in shadow

Sliding through long grass

Near the water hole

Where plump deer pass



He should be snarling around houses

At the jungle’s edge,

Baring his white fangs, his claws

Terrorising the village



But he’s locked in a concrete cell

His strength behind bars

Stalking the length of his cage

Ignoring visitors



He hears the last voice at night

The patrolling cars

And stares with his brilliant eyes

At the brilliant stars