We chose these two pieces to sample from our poetry and art selections this year because together they complement each other’s striking subject. “Old Lions Die Alone” tells a story of power through the eyes of an aging lion heart, and Iman Siddiq paints one of these eyes through her perspective of a maturing student at Penn State.
KLIO 2022 is coming soon, and is stocked with other wonderful pieces like these so keep your eyes out for more teasers to come!
Old Lions Die Alone
by Lance Colet
Once, he had been king.
He had lazed while others hunted
and still gorged himself on the choice bits of prey.
He had snarled, and others obeyed,
for his regality spoke for itself.
His violent potential had been palpable,
but there was no need to unleash tooth or claw.
Until the flame of the usurper flared up,
and he was called to action,
and he was driven away,
and his cubs were eaten,
and his legacy vanished.
Now he lazed again,
a king without a throne.
Indifferent to the vultures
for he had always known
the natural end to any reign:
Old lions die alone.
Lance Colet is an undergraduate student at Penn State University Park pursuing a major in economics and minors in psychology and creative writing.
An Enigma, by Iman Siddiq
Iman Siddiq is currently a second-year architecture major from Dallas, Texas. Iman writes: “I have always loved art and have found it to be one of the most joyful and calming ways to express my creativity. Trying to find my style has also helped me understand myself and my personality, which is one of the reasons I love to experiment with different mediums and techniques.”