Jaguar Poet

Jaguar Sculpture by Ted Hughes

Jaguar Poet
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“Stare at the
monster”
—Ted Hughes
“Famous Poet,”
The Hawk in the Rain

Stare at the monster—
How difficult to put into
Words this monstrosity
Slinking before you

You’re nothing but—
An apprentice to the
Wizard monster who
Turns into a Jaguar
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How can you know—
With your demeanor
Of a mouse what a
Monster really seeks

Word-hoards that—
Hide Monsters of the Id
That only Beowulf once
Knew a long time ago
________________

Before Poets went—
Haggard before their
Assemblies of hurt
Dreg-boozed warriors

Anglo-Saxon males—
Once tankarding their
Youth thru obscurity
Into Sword-effulgence
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Nothingness gaped—
Stegosaurus monsters
Gigantic dragons still
Cast their burning eye

And here am I—
Seduced by money
Tenure and praise
From my own Tongue