Tiger in a Cage

8 Comments

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  • Life

    Poem Commentary

    I graduated from Kaplan University today! Summa Cum Laude, no less! So after I graduated I asked myself what I wanted to do... I could have gone out for martinis and celebrated, but what I really wanted to do is go down to Starbucks, get online and write a little poem for you good folks... And here it is - "Tiger in a Cage" written in a Starbucks in Chicago.... Enjoy

    Tiger in a Cage
    With golden bars you set to work
    To build a cage for me,
    A chance to finally settle down,
    A home and family,
    A haven built for just us two,
    A port for our old age,
    But my soul was pacing back and forth
    Like a tiger in a cage.

    I chose to go to Borneo
    Then round the China Sea.
    I made my way to old Taipei
    To Capetown and Capri
    In every port I squandered gold
    And spent my hard earned wage.
    In every port my spirit paced
    Like a tiger in a cage.

    I heard you wed an upright man
    Who works down at the mill,
    Who gave you tousle headed kids,
    A cottage on the hill...
    These days I tend to drink alone
    It's just a passing stage,
    My spirit treading to and fro
    Like a tiger in a cage.

    We rue the things that we've done wrong,
    Regret what could have been,
    And wish we had a second chance
    To make things right again.
    I sit in darkened bars and long
    To turn another page,
    Yet still my spirit paces
    Like that tiger in the cage.

    Poem Comments

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    Paolo commented on Tiger in a Cage

    09-19-2010

    There are poems that even though one might desire a change of tense or adjective or noun that in doing so might exact a penalty that is unneeded and certainly without merit. I wanted to go on the ride this work was taking me and if along the way there was a bump I wanted to know that too. I know that I sometimes write it wrong to make a point, but here there is no wrong writing or points to make but a statement showing us the restlessness of the voice and how that even in wandering sometimes the desire for motion, wither it be pacing or traveling, must happen no matter the cost. The rhyme is a blessed hook here and I really enjoyed this as I have paced most of my life having lived in 4 counties and a good number of cities in my life.
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    SavVySam commented on Tiger in a Cage

    08-09-2010

    Just a simple observation offered here...but I think those born with that restless Tiger...will never be yoked...excellent write..perfect rhyme scheme and not one extraneous word! Nicely done!
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    ApaqRasgirl commented on Tiger in a Cage

    08-08-2010

    wow, that was a very passionate, emotion filled write,,,,,,we always ask ourselfs if we should have done things different, but our paths have been set for us, no not why will we ever know,,,,it does make one wonder oh so much......blessings to you dear for brighter days.....loves ya asha
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    Teardrops commented on Tiger in a Cage

    08-08-2010

    I love every word and i say go for the things in life you know will make you happy you took life above love and safty i would have done the same . I got love to that was the plus . I took love and then the world you can have them both . You have out done yourself with this poem and if i had the vote it would be the winner this week great write Glenn Marie
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    Chaos128 commented on Tiger in a Cage

    08-08-2010

    Yes, here is a piece that speaks vivid volumes. Ah, about what, though? The road not taken? A life unexperienced? Or did your protagonist regret he could not accomplish both? Had he chosen the road of quiet domesticity, would he now be rueing the days of high adventure he echewed? Ha ha did you think I was gonna make it easy, G? Ha ha no such luck. We all wanna have our cake and eat it, too, but I think it's gonna be a while yet before someone figures it out. Ha ha no worries; it'll come to pass in the next life... or the one after that : ) Great stuff!!!
    Reply to Comment

    gmcookie

    08/08/2010

    See... meaning, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Now I know what I was thinking about when I wrote this, but I've already said too much about that in my reply to Richard's comments. The thing is, if there is something in here that means something to you... that's what the poem means. That's exactly what I want it to mean. I am more than happy to claim ownership of your brilliant ideas! hehe

    When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.

    John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the USA

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