Ode to the Tiger
A noble name, he surely had
But the only one known was "Claw"
In a time when the world was awry
With scores of demons he did brawl
A loner, surely, though with a heart for others
Claw was the last of his kind
The blade he bore shone vermillion
And as it whirred, a bright light would blind
When the demons of Rahu tore through the land
The voices of men lifted up to the sky
They asked the gods for help
It was him that answered, his sword the reply
Two years the battle raged on
Two years he fought
But when the fires of battle burned low
It seemed all would be for naught
Ragu's body was found,
Slain by Claw's noble hand
But Claw too lay dying
His spirit flying from the land
Again Man cried out
And the gods favored them
Their savior was uplifted
Though the thread of life was trimmed
With celestial hands reshaping,
His form was made anew
His hands took on his namesake,
His hair: his sword's deadly hue
Though beast he is,
These lands he ever guards
To watch and to teach,
And be on the lips of young bards