Notes About The Poem

7/18/2026 for Ode to Cat 2 Poetry Contest sponsored by Unica Hija 

Ode to a Panther

A sudden shiver rushes down my spine. 
Your shoulders move like you are on the prowl. 
The flesh you dearly want to eat is mine,
say piercing green eyes, and deep, rumbling growl. 
To be a housecat, you were never bred. 
As a feline, you have my respect.
It's only bars that separate us two. 
Don't kill me.  Instead, 
take the one who caused your free life to be wrecked. 
Go kill the man who put you in this zoo.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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Goldsmith Avatar
August 18, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading. What a wonderful write/story you have here. Guess the zoo keeps him safe/feed/housed. Yet No freedom.... Have a fun day with your win............
Crandall Avatar
August 18, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Thanks, Paula! Yep, who knows, but I betcha that panther is not happy with the trade-off - lol.
Dietrich Avatar
July 18, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Ohh very cool. You used a zoo cat. Great creative thinking here
Crandall Avatar
August 18, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Yup, I don't have a whole lot of experience with house cats, so I used my experience at the zoo.
Wolf Avatar
July 18, 2026 at 9:02 PM
As Ogden Nash wrote: "When called by a panther, don't anther." Really. ~ gw
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