Not Yet A Lion

An Ekphrastic Sonnet

By D. J. ReddallPublished about a year ago • 1 min read

Jean-Leon Gerome, "Lion on the Watch," 1885

Permit me to confess my secret hope:

Since I was very small and full of dreams

I have wished with leonine grace to lope

Into the midst of morons, and their screams

To shed my clumsy, awkward cage of flesh

For a form rippling with shocking strength

To audition a body lithe and fresh

And proudly admire my new tail’s length

Perhaps I was a lion long ago

And have mistaken memories for dreams;

We may have myriad, warm shapes to know

And in new garments, find eternal seams

Henceforth, I will not complain bitterly

Not yet a lion, I may one day be

I write because my time is limited and my imagination is not.

Komalabout a year ago
Wow! This poem totally captures that feeling of wanting to break free and become something wild and powerful, like a lion! Love the mix of dream and reality—could totally imagine you as a fierce lion one day! 🦁
Rachel Deemingabout a year ago
I reckon that I'm ripped under this soft flesh I carry around! This was excellent and that picture is like it's in Technicolor TM.
Dharrsheena Raja Segarranabout a year ago
"And have mistaken memories for dreams" This line made me think a lot because I often confuse reality with dreams, imagination, and things I've read/watched 😅😅
Kodahabout a year ago
Evocative exploration! Love it! 💌
Andrea Corwin about a year ago
Some morons could use a good shredding!
Sean A.about a year ago
Oh my God, that fourth line! Amazingly well done overall, but that made me guffaw