A Tiger in the Zoo By Leslie Norris

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 pump 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.

1.
Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:
1. On pads of velvet quiet,
  In his quiet rage.
2. And stares with his brilliant eyes
  At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?
2.
Read the poem again, and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.
1. Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.
2. Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns.
Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations.
3.
How does the tigers stalk in the cage?
4.
How does the tiger feel locked in the concrete cell of the zoo? Why does he ignores the visiters?
5.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
Who hears the last voice and of what?
6.
What message do you get from this poem?

A Tiger in the Zoo