A Tiger Downtown

He was doing little more than lying on the ground
He rubbed his paws with his tongue and wafted his tail.
As the sun warmed his frame,
Coming to the stop light behind us
Was eighteen wheels of beating thunder.
At this sound, the beast stood up
Fur became chiseled stone.
And eyes ran the crowd,
While his claws
Sank into the sidewalk.
His panicked steps
Pounded
In all directions
Threatening to erupt.
And all I could do
Was watch
For in this moment,
My life existed in every
Pulse of the tigers heart
And on the point
Of unshackled teeth.
Until the truck passed into unheard distance
And the tiger laid down at his owners feet
With me marveling at the orange coat.

Again, a real story. This happened when a guy from an animal preserve had a tiger with him in downtown Farmington. I admit the tiger was not nearly full grown at about 185 pounds but he was still an imposing presence.