Zoological

Desire is the grinning leer of the teethbared wolf in the firelit fear-festival that is the lone explorer when the first howls rise moonward like clouds of lamentation. That’s what desire is.

Loyalty is a quiet pachydermed jungle clearing as the herd stands between the poacher and his prey-in their grey skinned minds they’re dead already, but they smile in their way. That’s what loyalty is.

Fear is the yellow-electric blood of the deer when she feels the hot breath of the pack on flying hooves that she barely stays ahead of and her heart bursts. That’s what fear is.

Cruelty is the claws of the bear opening the tented man from face to belt as he lay sleeping with dreams of childhood encircling his mind before he feels the wet cavity empty onto the leaves. That’s what cruelty is.


But love?

Love is the swan that refuses to leave his bride’s corpse after the cruelty of man turns her polished white beauty into a mattress-stuffing spray of white. Love is his complaint.

Love is knowing a certain secret pain that is yours forever.

Love is gratefulness unbound; always.