I Almost Wasn’t Human

The Panther is across the gorge,
The distance between the two sides
like a tall building next to a small road
Under the moon beams, the pattern of the Panther’s fur can be clearly seen
I fill myself with hostility
Staring at it face to face
Without care or worry, it paces
back and forth
Its two shoulder-blades jutting out in turns
I admit
Its form is a kind of perfection
I sigh
Leaning against the cliff I sit
Time passes a piece at a time
It also lies down
lightly placed on the grass
I think it’s right, one should sleep
And when I'm close to slumbering
I hear it roar
This roar penetrates my body
I am only slightly away from
Rising with the roar
I know, once I roar
My two human hands
will turn into two fore-claws

Jimu Langge 吉木狼格