Spirit Circle

A Caveat to New Converts

Beware the Tiger hidden in the Lamb,
his wool-sheathed claws and sheep's eyes veiling fire.
Hosea married Gomer, a common whore,
and got three children in her well-worn womb
under the Tiger.  Jeremiah came
to Jerusalem a poet, and wore
away his poetry to die a bore
in Egypt.  Lamb-beguiled, the saintly dream
of fleece and limpid eyes.  The Tiger waits,
crouching in the wool, to strip and break their bones.
Dream on, oh would-be saints, of God, of sweets
in Paradise, rewards for repented sins.
Sleep with the Lamb between the silken sheets.
You'll wake to find the Tiger always wins.

Next Poem:  "After Psalm 137"
List of Poem Circles
Updated last on:  2001/05/22