The tiger in the poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" by Leslie Norris is depicted as being confined in a zoo and unable to roam freely in its natural habitat. The poet describes how the tiger slides through the long grasses of its enclosure, which raises the question of why it does so.

Possible reasons why the tiger slides through the long grasses are:

1. Instinctual behavior: Tigers are known to be skilled hunters that use their stealth and agility to stalk and ambush prey. Sliding through the long grasses may be a way for the tiger to practice and maintain its hunting skills, even though it has no real prey to catch in the zoo.

2. Physical exercise: Tigers are also known to be active animals that require a lot of space and movement to stay healthy and fit. Sliding through the long grasses may be a form of exercise for the tiger, helping it to stretch and strengthen its muscles and joints.

3. Cooling down: Tigers are adapted to living in hot and humid climates, and may use different methods to regulate their body temperature. Sliding through the long grasses may be a way for the tiger to cool down and avoid overheating, especially if there is a water source nearby.

4. Marking territory: Tigers are territorial animals that use scent and visual cues to establish and defend their territory. Sliding through the long grasses may be a way for the tiger to spread its scent and mark its territory, even though it is confined to a small enclosure.

Overall, the image of the tiger sliding through the long grasses in the poem can be seen as a symbol of its frustrated instincts and unfulfilled needs in captivity. The poem highlights the contrast between the tiger's natural habitat and its artificial environment in the zoo, and raises questions about the ethics of keeping wild animals in captivity for human entertainment.

The poet is talking about the time when the tiger should have been in its natural habitat and that is the forest. if he would have been in the forest, he would have been keeping an eye on his prey (food) to hunt and to hide he is standing behind the long grass, waiting for the right moment to attack