The Caged Cheetah Poem by Francis Duggan

This is no place for creature such as you
In wired in prison here in Melbourne Zoo
So many miles from home your own Country
Where you hunted and had fun and lived carefree.

You look at me with sad suspicious eyes
I'm human kind to you one of the boys
Who felled you with that tranquilising dart
And placed you here to live with pining heart.

To your eyes all human faces look the same
And you stare at me as if I'm the one to blame
For bringing to your life great misery
Poor captive heart for that do not blame me.

There's deer nearby but them you cannot chase
And those athletic legs need miles and miles more space,
Your territory one eight acre of ground
And no room for you to sport and race around.

And how heartbreaking this for you must be
You pine for home, the open territory
The great gazelle hunt and the unequalled thrill
That climax in excitement with the kill.

And now your're prisoner here on foreign shore
And those great days for you can be no more
And you though innocent of any crime
Like life time prisoner must serve your time.

And in this place you live your final day
And Africa so many miles away
And all day long you pacing up and down
Here in your pen in distant Melbourne Town.