The Tigered Cage

The circus done, the circus train
pulled out of town in the wind and rain,
across the plain, then into hills
and higher yet, with mountain thrills.

With the storm breaking out as a mighty front,
The train in the mountains was but a runt
Of a toy on traintracks with which the storm played,
And wheels screeched as cars were swayed.

But with the circus opening the very next day
In another town yet far away,
The train pressed on with undue speed,
Not heeding the danger in its driven need.

So it entered into the trestled pass--
whipped with gusts and going much too fast,
And at the turn that screamed for *slow!*
It lurched and leaped and almost lost control.

But though metal strained and it near-sideways flailed,
The circus train did not derail.
Yet the chains on the flatcar did snap and zing
As the tigered cage did take to wing.

Toppling and twisting down trellis and slope,
This tripping cage did now bring new hope
To the tiger tired of iron bars
And riding on flatbed railroad cars.

End over end and bump upon bump,
The bars bent a little more with every thump.
The tiger roared as downward it hurled,
Awaiting its moment to rejoin a free world.

Two endings, choose one:

1)

They found the cage, sans tiger, of course.
And for the loss of the tiger felt great remorse.
Now the tiger roams in the forest at night
Reinstilling its world with respectful fright.

2)

They found the cage, sans tiger, of course.
And for the loss of the tiger felt great remorse.
But for Tony the Tiger is was a great break
As he lived the rest of his life eating Frosted Flakes!