The Lion for Real - Question

Okay. I like this poem - and maybe I haven't spent enough time thinking
about it - but - anyone here know exactly /what/ the lion in the poem
symbolizes or embodies? I saw an early draft of the poem somewhere online
where it had a line (from memory, so not exact) "a lion came along and
devoured America" so it makes me think that the lion is somewhat equivalent
to Moloch in Howl, bashing open skulls and devouring brains and
imaginations - doing other Molochish things as Molochs are wont to do.

Please feel free to provide many wonderful answers.

Sincerely,
-taris-