Red was the light
in the eastern sky
at the dusk of the junction
that was drawing nigh

There fell the angel
to the door at the zoo
as my own life waned
and was nearly through

Yet some grand scheme
found me in her eyes
The vessel to fill
and a power to rise

If ever a nemesis
extinction could find
That honor distinguished
would now be mine

The four-footed body
stretching to stand
Tail to spine
and paws to hands

Stripes on the lumbar
alone would remain
Face of the enemy
was now my shame

Yet disguised as a man
I had power to hide.
And on two legs
their terror would stride