if you were an animal
i heard your howl
chorus of one
weather crumbled in my hands
i put you away like sweaters
on the first day
of spring
still out you seep
phantom memory
becoming
all things
///
gray fur
wet clumps
black nose
going somewhere
running on the side of the road
real close
but not
too close
sharp eyes
everywhere
especially ahead
where gravel comes
to a point
so dark
like spilled ink
my car's headlights
no match
for this void
we pace each other
i want to touch you
but
i'm a petrified skeleton
leaf
shaped like a girl
i want to hug you
but
shaking shaken
i'm meat
you're an animal
huff huffing
loping
sniffing
scrying the ground
paw paw pat
your majesty
bewitches