Sultan

THIS POEM IS NOT PRESENTED AS I INTENDED (ie. DOUBLE SPACED).

THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY PERSONS BEYOND MY CONTROL

THUS DIMINISHING THE READING EXPERIENCE.

🙈

The place was called the Tower Zoo

In Blackpool by the sea;

I went there with grandfather who

Showed aminals to me.

I was but a boy then

Around about age nine,

The day would be my birthday when

He said the day was mine.

We strolled around the cages,

We looked at creatures grand;

We walked about for ages,

He held me by the hand.

And suddenly I saw him,

The saddest sight I'd seen

A dozing beast, forlorn and grim,

A king without a queen.

A sedated lion lying

Within a prison small;

I recall that I was crying,

I felt my teardrops fall.

Sultan was the lion's name,

His nameplate told me so;

I asked the keeper "What's your game?"

"He has no room to grow".

He rejoined "A full grown big cat!"

(He ought to be ashamed);

He told me that the cat was at

The zoo-land to be tamed.

I wondered what the hell it was,

Whatever was his use?

I remember thinking this because

They should have let him loose.

I gazed in awe at his great size

My soblets dripped like rain;

I heeded his half open eyes,

His regal tail and main.

I thought this day should be the best

And merriest I had had,

But it emerged to manifest

The saddest of sad ~ sad.

The king was drowsing, half asleep,

He couldn't hardly roar.

Nor raise a murmur ~ not a peep,

He couldn't even snore.

Although an infant I still knew

(These thoughts were in my head);

I still knew a thing or two ~

May be the better dead.

But now so many years have passed

I still detect a chill;

An image that will last and last...

I muse about him still.

Though he is lost to better things,

As noble as he stood;

This mighty Sultan ~ king of kings

Will be with me for good.