The Tyger

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

from Songs Of Experience

By William Blake

1794


Was saddened to see this poor creature pacing up and down along the fence of its enclosure. The zoo was heavily promoting its rôle as a place for animal conservation, but in reality I think that's just a fig leaf to cover the embarrassment they feel at being a place of entertainment.

Well, I suppose being here means this magnificent creature is safe from poachers. And until we lean how to let them live in the wild, maybe this is a place of safety.