Circus Lions

aka A Lesson in Sticking Up For Yourself.
the subjugated lion is just a metaphor for myself.
and others like me.
not to diminish the animal rights issues touched upon-- and thank you, everyone, for your sentiments in the right on that subject. it is extremely important!

that in mind, this is an indulgent whiny-bitch personal artwork and not related to the actual plight of real lions.
but, lots of us feel like spited, broken beasts.


<sub>meet the circus lion. a piteous creature; a hunched, humiliated killing machine in a clown outfit. waving hello and jumping through fire and roaring on cue, all just to prove you've tamed your world and it's not so dangerous anymore. she's really just trained to look for the tiniest bits of joy that are handed to her for doing these things, to amuse you.

because if she ever followed her nature and ripped a man in two she'd be wrong, and get nothing, maybe even shot. why? she's a lion. that's what lions do. fuck your shit up. and they're honest and beautiful for it.

but that's not what she does.
she has her own special set of rules laid out for her. she's supposed to play nice and get along and make people happy. it's the only time she's rewarded. if she is herself, if she lashes out and makes a scene, and anyone gets uncomfortable, she is punished. shunned to a cage.
let's be honest, sweetheart; no one likes a lion as a lion. they're mean and they want to eat you and shit ain't cute.

now, when will this circus lion have had enough of the bullshit and lunge into the audience.</sub>


________________

_{well that sure was fast.}
it rained again all night so i couldn't go out. so, three hours in PSP yielded me this completed work. :> i put spots on her because she's young-ish; the burn layers just highlighted em more than i'd like though. holy shit you guys i drew this freehand. draft here: [link]
the metaphor began at work-- quite humorously in fact-- when i'd come out the kitchen and be surly and get yelled at or made fun of, so i'd pout and shuffle back in and do my job. it's that simple. it later expanded into, well... a parellel for everything about me that makes me feel disrespected or indignant and dangerous but taking it on the chin to preserve the peace.