free-verse12 lines
The Captive Lion
by William Henry DaviesThou that in fury with thy knotted tail
Hast made this iron floor thy beaten drum;
That now in silence walkst thy little space,
Like a sea-captain, careless what may come:
What power has brought thy majesty to this,
Who gave those eyes their dull and sleepy look;
Who took their lightning out, and from thy throat
The thunder when the whole wide forest shook?
It was that man who went again, alone,
Into thy forest dark, Lord, he was brave!
That man a fly has killed, whose bones are left
Unburied till an earthquake digs his grave.