He dead stares the cats A million years of instinct twisting his guts. Grips his fork. The caveman readying To fight claw against blade and wear the monster’s hide. The lightning crashes The jungle teems with life Tears fall, A guttural terror rises from his lungs. His sister, not seeing the struggle, coos for calm. His eyes never falter His hand never releases his silver teeth. Eighteen months and fiercely independent. His nervousness shows in the way his mouth falls and shuts, Falls and shuts. I want to tell him, “Bravery is not lack of emotion. Bravery is finding a way to fight through the tears. True courage is staying put when every bone in your body is telling you to run!” But the lesson must wait for another day When tigers can move more than heads And my little one is not strapped to highchair In the Jungle Café.
“The Boy and the Tigers was first published in the Winter 2022 issue TYCA-SE Journal.
Photo by MARIANNE RIXHON: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-a-tiger-toy-6233572/