How he slipped unnoticed through
the ticket barrier at Hammersmith
one can only guess, but there he was
on the Piccadilly Line train to Cockfosters.
Passengers huddled together at one end
of the carriage, leaving him enough space
to stretch and doze fitfully at the other.
Occasionally, he would growl and flick his tail.
Why nobody called the police or alerted
the train crew remains a mystery,
but we sighed with relief and tried not to stare
when the lion alighted at Leicester Square.