Advice to a grandson about big cats  in an  open zoo

Look there,  young  grandson, where the  lion lies
lethargic in the grass.  But do not be afraid,
even when he yawns with his fearsome fangs .

Yet you should be wary still,  for his tawny mate
lies somewhere near with her sisters of the pride,
crouched with not even slight twitchings of her tail.

She, my grandson , is the one to fear.

The king of beasts will here display  himself
with his shaken sandy mane and regal roar
to keep your eyes upon him, to betray
your unsuspecting self to their grasping claws.

Let us go now so that we can seek instead
the spotted  leopard or  the glorious black and  gold
of the  tiger in his lair, that most magnificent
of all  the cats to marvel  at .