a dream of lions is desire:
the fire in the eye, the
marble heart
guardian of wisdom
embodiment of power…

let me (he said) devour
    courage
ingest nobility
become
   mystery.

let me play with lions.

so, leaping the wall fourteen feet
   to the compound
he engaged
   their paws
—and, in the instant between hoping
   and knowing
either awoke with pain

or entered the maw of death still dreaming.

from an article in the Los Angeles Times: “Man Who Asked to Play with Lions Mauled to Death”