When The Tigers Came Poem by Janine Alyssa Navarro

Your scares gave you character
But they shoved you into a tray
Along with all the careless breathers
Even if you were meant for so much more

Taking in smoke from your tired cigarette
Your mind hurts and swirls
With all the useless faces you remember
And the worthless numbers you never called

You walk freely but you feel bars
Grasping at your bone marrow
You can barely move, muscles whine
But you soldier on, lighting another stick

Dinner is on the table by 8
Yet not even a shadow bypasses the feast
You snorted, these are pretentious people
Feeding stomachs of heartless bodies

Were you punctured by an arrow
Or the sharpest knife from a traveling caravan
I see your insides peep out
Even if you remain erect and proud

Ignore my voice if you will
I’ll let you scavenge through the nest
Of all things contemptible, but one day
I’ll come for you, Dear, I will