Tiger's Bite

Imagine a word

Where you can take it

And make it hateful.

This is not to be

Confused with evil.

But this word, pregnant

With centuries worth

Of meaning that still

Rankles people of

Different colors and

Races, is still in

Usage. Now, some folks

Say that the word ought

To be banned outright.

Others contend that

It be modified

So that the word can

Be changed somehow to

Soften its strong blow.

The fact remains. It

Is a word that ought

To be used by each

Hue in the human

Race. It ought not be

Buried in a grave

Of lexical rest.

It ought to be shown

As a harsh statement

Of brutality

And a reminder

Of how force can be

Employed by some of

The human race but

Not others who speak

The word. These vicious

Activities ought

To end. Whenever

Someone mouths the word,

Let there be a sharp

“-er” at the end

That’s as fierce as a

Full-grown tiger's bite.