To a beautiful tigress

A poem for the tigress of Jhujhura who lives in Bandhavgarh National Park:

I had written this poem even before I had seen her. I had only seen pictures of her, but this January I had the great fortune of seeing her in person and she is much more beautiful than I imagined her to be. Lithe and lissome, she is the epitome of grace. When we saw her coming down to the waterhole to quench her thirst, it was hard to imagine that this nimble tigress had newborn cubs to boast of.

The zephyr caressed the tender leaves
And caused them to sigh with delight.
The boughs waited to break into a dance
As they bathed in streams of light.

The path was lined with rows of Sal,
Bamboos shielded the grassy earth
From the unkind glare of the summer Sun;
The Shama sang with ceaseless mirth.

The grass was ablaze with exultant hope
The trees awaited the quiet,soft tread;
The nymph could appear any instant now,
Making her way to the calm river bed.

Soon she emerged,goddess of the woods;
Golden child of the luminous Sun
"She has arrived! She is here!"
Called out the cervids in unison.

Lustrous as the stars, gentle as the breeze
Her eyes so mellow and sweet
With an august gait she walked on the path
And reached the soothing retreat

The glistening river beckoned the nymph
And embraced her in her fluid arms
Pearls of water sparkled on her skin
And bejewelled her feline form.

What divine beauty of heart could she possess
To command such mystic charm!
For beauty of the soul does not wear away
With time or with bodily harm.

Her magical allure arises from within
For her heart is lovelier than her mien
What fools are men to call her a beast,
A fiendish creature that she has never been.

Calm and aloof her visage seems
In spite of her power and vigour.
For all the strength she holds in her,
She seems tender as a flower.