Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Tiger Tiger Burning Bright

TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?


I don't know about the tigers symmetry but the Indian governments cohesive symmetrical policy regarding the tigers have been extremely helpful in protecting this national animal. The wonderful job done by the ministry of environment and forests have succeeded in preserving this majestic beast.

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?


The forest wardens keep track of the tigers using high tech radio transmitting collars and more mundane ways like checking pug marks. The men and women who are entrusted with guarding this rare animal have been keeping their eyes wide open to make sure the poachers don't shoot, skin and smuggle the entire animal through the porous border to china where they sell it for a lot of money. They also don't take bribes nor buy 42 inch televisions for their mistress while turning a blind eye to poaching. Oh, our game wardens are a trustworthy lot.

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?


Reports of an ever increasing tiger count kept everyone including the international wildlife preservation organizations happy. Ah, but they didn't contend with the creative mathematics of our forest officials. The forest officers thought that a tiger has two legs, so four pug marks means two tigers. And voila the population doubles over night.

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?


Cant really blame them you know, they had seen videos of the Bengal Tiger and it wore white clothes, played awful off side shots besides getting booed by the crowd. Most of all it had only two legs which it never put to good use. After seeing the Bengal tiger's performance during the recent Pakistan tour, even I would want to shoot anything remotely related to the tiger.

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?


But not to worry, the learned game wardens are working on the issue. More updates later.

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?


Send your contributions to:
The Tiger Preservation Fund
Bengal Cricket Association
Kolkatta.
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