Unlike any others there were two,
Soft coats, brown eyes, slender waists and
Claws so sharp that blood they always drew.

Those in the jungle knew their tale,
And so none crossed their path,
'cause the two were never known to fail.

But as time would have it,
It was knitting a bigger tale,
And none were aware of it,
Until the tale itself was to reveal,
On a grander scale.

Finally the time arrived and revealed,
And it was on a full moon night,
The brown leaves a carpet rolled,
On a pebbled riverside.

They both came for a drink there,
And marveled at each other's reflection,
With no end to their long stares.

It was a hunter's defeat at once,
As they both lost each other,
At that first glance.

And so it became a routine,
Every full moon night,
The duals came,
First shy, then coy and then they played,
They say throughout the night.

All in the jungle,
Were surprised at that sight,
For even hunters could be so gentle,
They saw on a full moon night.

The news reached the head of the village nearby,
And they all came to see the sight.
One of the village boys,
A fool was he,
Brought a gun,
And shot the SHE.

The roar that followed,
Was to be heard to be believed,
And the men they all ran away to the village,
And once home they reached were relieved.

Meanwhile all the jungle's folks came to the rescue,
And cared for the SHE till she woke up renewed.
The first sight she saw once she opened her eyes,
Was a tear in those ferocious and fearsome tiger eyes.

She lowered her lashes and smiled at him,
And he stayed by her side till the light of his life grew dim.

And they say even today on a full moon night,
Travelers swear on the pebbled riverside,
They see the duals play throughout the night.