Leopard Circus

The tiger is  a leopard

with painted stripes

applied while he sleeps

he never wonders

about these new markings

so like the shadows

of the bars of his cage

where keepers feed him

more than he can ever eat,

the stench of the rotting carrion

assumed to come from him

When told the tricks a tiger must do

he does not think the Tiger Tamer

is talking about him

for he is a leopard

and everyone knows  the leopard

cannot change his spots

The Daily Post