Tigers and temples

How is it that Temples imagine that they
Have the know how and the foresight to manage and play
A part in the upkeep and physical need
Of an army of Tigers and hopefully feed
The game plan is nurture and show them some care
But what I am seeing is more like despair
Arrogance bullying and taunting them they
Appear most unnatural With the tourists each day

They do seem lethargic and inactive to me
Uninspired and indifferent which really is key
Monastic life is the opposite end
Of the spectrum from where
Wild Tigers might be having to depend
On humans for everything, it seems to me
It isn’t conducive so how can it be
donations and admissions you would think
That by now
With the space and the numbers
They must work out how
But what it is not is a sanctuary
Its more like a circus thats if you ask me

They are manhandled and frightened
By arrogant men
No doubt they are beaten
For training is when
Our eyes are not on them
And thus I see fear
These are wild beasts and
To me it is clear

Then we hear in The dead of night
Traffickers come
How can that be right
Whisking away Tigers thats what we hear
And replacing with others
So the numbers are clear

But the registered animals
Seemingly some
Are trafficked to Laos
Under the thumb
Of the black marketeers
Of the gangsters and more
Tigers are big money
That is for sure

Dead tiger bones
Are the creme of the creme
Tiger tails tiger skins
They are a gem
A jewel in the crown
Of those sordid enough
To deal in wild animals
However rough

And this is a lucrative hobby
i see
Denials of course from the monks
Obviously
Cubs also missing
Its inscrutable where
I think its absurd
That they have Tigers there

Its just a fantasy life for them
They
Get despondent of course they do
When tourists pay
They expect to manhandle
And sit on and play
These are wild Tigers
And its hopeless to say

147 of them should ever be there
Its a loveless existence
Its repugnant to share
A sterile habitat
And all dead food
These are the nobility
Fed by the crude

There is no humility
Not that I can see
Just taunting and sadness
And discourtesy
The keepers are upstarts
Petulant sods
Insulting and shameless
With sticks and with rods

I don’t feel the peace
The affection that should
Be gracious and welcoming
Its just not good
And with all the stories
It just makes me feel
That this tiger temple
It just isn’t real

Its unmindful and stressful
Normality no
Honourable not really
Part of some show
We make our assumptions
I am sure many do
But a temple is no place
For Tigers and few
Can imagine the husbandry there
And now the corruption
That appears to poke through

In a sea of morality
Something feels wrong
Its a spurious thought
But it seems all along
People are saying
Things are going on
Animals are missing
Is it some con
Its not above board
Thats if you ask me
And the TIGER boys suffer
Lamentably