Der Panther

The weary passage of these bars

has made his gaze an empty stare:

as if the bars were all there are

and that behind them nothing's there.

Strong and supple strides around

and back to their beginning come.

A swirling play of power surrounds

a noble will that stands there numb.

Just at times the curtain parts

quietly inside his eyes.

Along a nerve, awareness darts—

arriving in his heart, it dies.

translation ©1995, 2001 Leonard Cottrell