Bagheera

Bagheera walked into the bar and poured himself a drink

His fur was stained with the blood of monkeys and he needed time to think

The man at the bar said, "What are you doing here?"

Bagheera let go a low soft purr that kept the man from coming near

He said "I'm Bagheera, the mighty panther and the jungle is my home

I'm free, free in all I see and that makes me free to roam"

Sometimes to feel the music of the jungle it can cause you pain

And the man heard Bagheera as the entire jungle joined in the big black cat's refrain

One dark night the man-cub came to the big black cat afraid

The boy cried, "Teacher, teacher I don't, understand this ache within me"

The great cat sighed and (then softly he began)

He said, "Indeed thou art a man's child now and the world is yours to give and take

The time has come now for your awareness to change forever and there's a choice for you to make

You may remain here in the jungle and hunt with the free people

Or if you feel the man's God calling you return to your kind in the village and worship at his steeple

The only thing you must do is what you feel in your heart is true

I will hunt now and leave you on your own to decide what to do"

The mighty panther went on his hunt

Secret Lord of the jungle beneath the night sky

And some say if you could have seen him then you'd have noticed a single tear fall from his majestic eye