catch a tiger by the tongue

once upon an evening jaunt
from down inside an unknown swamp
i came across a striped feline
which made for me a right beeline.

with obtuse fangs in mighty pangs
and anise in his pounce,
he shaked his head quite fussily,
but must have weighed an ouce

too much or more the branch he left,
bereft of hue, it snapped in two,
and cleft just like a sentence through.
but deftly did the tiger up

and found me so alone hopped down
and pounced upon his little snack.
i hope you didn’t want me back –
you'll never get me home again.

so if perchance you come upon
a tiger of your own,
do unlike me the wiser thing,
and leave that cat alone!