I had a dream, woke up shaking   The moon breaking through the tress   And in the stillness of the evening   I heard a rustling in the leaves   And I saw a panther in the yard   Moving slow across the ledge   With silver eyes and a cool regard   And hunger with a cutting edge      Open the door, let it in   This mystery you found   It's all yours now   Come lay the panther down      So I called the eagle and the raven said   My prayer to the sky with the moon as my witness   I looked the panther in the eye and beheld   His violent beauty   That cut so deep and hard   Through my civilized indifference   And reckless disregard      So I open the door and let it in   This mystery I found is all mine now   Time to lay the panther down