The Thought Jaguar

Jaguar Sculpture by Ted Hughes

The Thought Jaguar
__________________

“Something else
is alive”
—Ted Hughes
“The Thought Fox,”
The Hawk in the Rain

I imagine him there—
In the London Zoo
Midnight loneliness
His blank eyes

Through the bars—
He sees even deeper
Into me than I could
Possible gaze

Cold, delicate cat—
The Jaguar’s nose is
Wary like mine as he
Sniffs me out

We’re both caged—
Creatures here in the
Vast city wilderness
If only we could kill

Neat prints left—
In the snow like mine
Both of us lame in
The hollow of death

We want widening—
Deepening greenness
That’s our business
Not a hole in the head

The clock ticks—
The bars don’t bend
If only I could get back
Out there in the Moors