Night Burn

Night Burn

As the black-pelted evening prowls in, paw pacing paw,

panther shoulders rippling, remorseless in heat,

I think of you my hellspawned dear, your lustrous

velvet coat, your lace-edged cavalier cuffs

your star torn smile, small sharp teeth,

crimson liar’s tongue.

I remember the wheel where the butterfly screamed

as she was broken, the shrieks from those who fell

before me down the yellow dead well of your eyes,

the claws you hid so functionally accessible 
padded in the black shadows beneath the lace,

rank with yesterday's kill as they raked me blind,

the crouch before me made disarming,

wide-eyed, open-mouthed in delirium’s pant,

always full of the faithless grace that mesmerized

your little birdlings in that practiced boneless sway.

Your plush endearments rang a nonsense language

hot mouthed and simple, grunts of angelic apes

before fur became slick smoothed skin,

so the shock of sudden spasm as you'd 

twitch a lashing tail and snarling pounce,

lapping at the jet of heart's surrender, biting
in the neckbone’s crunch that ends all reason,

was all the more profound.

I feel veloured deep night heavy and smoldering, pierced

with smoky red planetary coals, burning me

hard and small, leopard moon panting, glaring heat-mad;

give my thanks that soon

in the unchanging course of things

dawn will come.

August 2011

Posted for   OpenLinkNight  at dVerse Poets Pub

where I am hosting tonight. Come join us for some of the best poetry and community online. Doors open at 3:00 PM EST.