Analyzing Rainer Marie Wilkes's The Panther

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In only three short stanzas Rainer Marie Wilkes takes us on a trip to the zoo in his poem “The Panther”. This is not just any ordinary outing, for this is a special one. Once in a while readers read something great that bypasses the brain and goes straight into the heart and soul. In this well narrated poem, readers feel just that. This story is written beautifully and is wonderfully imaginative in a very unique way. Sometimes as human beings people get comfortable and get used to a cycle. Readers become trapped in their own world, and although we yearn to break free and be wild, there is always something holding us back, whether it is our anxiety, fears or financial situation. In the panther’s case, it is bars. The poem is more than just a story about a panther it is about relatable life circumstances. Rainer Maria Wilkes takes us on a heartfelt journey emphasizes freedom and entrapment, symbolism and a unique style of writing.
Upon opening the reader’s hearts, the poet unlocks the …show more content…

The poet uses a caged carnivorous cat as a symbol of the roar inside of us. This panther is not true to his purpose, while he is enclosed living in solitude with no emotion left in his soul. As humans, we can easily relate to the feeling of not being true to our own fulfillment, and empathize with the panther’s dilemma. The animal lives inside of our souls awaiting just one opportunity to escape and reveal our true meaning in this world. He is longing for just one desolate moment of freedom. It is as if he was in our very own conscious. His emerald green eyes have grown weary with age. Once they were used to envision endless landscapes of room to roam free. Now all they see are thousands of bars. Endless, relentless, bars. We also may experience life different than we envisioned it when we were young, wild and

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