Lines of Tigers

Lines drawn in Chalk –

Corners – jagged as Dust;

a Sheen of Normalcy –

White over two tigers.

tip-toe, gentle –

Don’t startle the Cats.

But claws reveal Stripes in spite,

dust mixes; with Blood, with Ink,

to become – bricks –

born of lies. Of Intentions.

Stack them. Quick.

Claws thrash and gleam.

Threatening – Splendid.

hands race in Agony.

Hide from Passion,

run from love.

Dust – more – curls beneath tired feet,

Rising, choking as eyes water.

I wish, I Yearn –

to go to the Zoo.

The claws are mine now –

Scraping furiously to see the cages.

They peel away, nerve and bone

Left in anguish – staining Permanence.

Oh – to be a Cat

How silly! A fantasy!

kept behind bars –

drowning in white paint.