Not Much Of A Choice Poem by Evelyn Judy Buehler

Cooper was a large and curious tiger, the bright star of a motley circus,
Always out of step with others; like erring moon, of dawn skies, citrus.

He was well fed and got lots of attention, like rave days of mist roses,
When silver moments tell true stories, before the latterly hour closes.

Whenever other tigers went left, Cooper went steadfastly, to the right,
As they did their pretty, big top tricks-to the merry audiences' delight!

Yes, Cooper's antics became part of the act. It made the people laugh!
To see him behaving like the clowns, the crowds split their sides in half!

Cooper's mother, Nova, still performed. Cooper himself wasn't very old;
And she still influenced Cooper's choices, like summer on the threshold.

Fast friends were fellow, frisky tigers, like gorgeous, forget-me-not fall;
And they frolicked before and after hours, like moonlight upon the wall.

The flashy circus was one big family, flecked with colors of fascination.
Cooper was quizzical and fearless, under powdery moon, of our fixation.

Cooper lived in the house of endless laughter, in stripes red and white;
With colorful clowns and daring acrobats, like fast comets at midnight!

His jade street was Anywhere, USA, in gloss summers of snapdragons;
Or falls of red leaves and fading scent, of change that always happens.

Nimble neighbors came from near and afar, calling in full moon, nightly;
When yearning sunset was no more, and bittersweet stars winked slyly.

'Prairie smoke' blooms were ignited, by the tangerine sun's torrid fervor;
While 'Apache plumes' did a rain dance, lest the fire spread any further!

'Neon lights' lit black summer nights, near star shaped, 'clustered blooms; '
As 'blue zebra primroses' pranced, among 'pink mountain rose' perfumes.

The caged trailer was left unlocked one day, and Cooper faced a dilemma.
Should he go, or should he stay? Soon, curiosity solved his strange enigma!

So instead of going to his pen with the others, Cooper fled into the woods.
He was glad he made that choice, like playgrounds of vibrant childhoods!

Meanwhile, the animal handlers were searching, like green waves, moving.
Sensing them, Cooper ran like a blur of days! He didn't see a trap looming!

It was a fox trap, set by a nearby farmer, and it pinched Cooper's big toe.
The handlers heard his bellowing roar, making them sure, which way to go!

Soon they had freed sore, tired Cooper, who had had enough of adventure;
And chose to return to the happy familiar, like old golden, sunrise treasure!

'Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by the toe.
If he hollers let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
My mother told me
To pick the very best one
And you are [not] it.'