The Gift

A thick cloak of silence

            Lays rest upon the jungle.

Suddenly a rustling of leaves is heard...

            Two yellow, piercing eyes come into view.

Fear claims my voice

            And I am unable to scream.

I stand motionless;

            Not a sound do I make.

Then, slowly out of the thick brush

            A great and brilliantly coloured tiger emerges.

He silently approaches me.

            He comes to a stop and kneels before me.

“Come forth.”

            “No!  I fear your intention and appearance.”

“I promise I shall not harm thee.”

            His eyes pierce my very soul, directly to the core.

I cautiously draw nearer to the tiger.

            Hesitantly I kneel down at his side.

“Now that thou hast trusted thine heart,

            I shall bestow upon you a great gift.”

My mind was perplexed by his statement.

            ‘What can he give me?’, I wondered.

He raised his paw into the air...

            Gently he placed it atop my head.

Once more fear grasped me

            And I attempted to escape his hold.

Then, unexpectedly a feeling of warmth overcame me.

            He removed his paw and rose to his feet.

Languidly he began to walk away.

            “Wait... I don’t understand!?!” I cried out. 

“What gift have I received?”

            He gazed deep into my eyes with a loving gleam.

Then, he softly spoke...

            “The greatest of all gifts... Knowledge.”