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