Animal

I keep thinking about

the little animal

with the sharp teeth

and the silky, sensuous body,

with its mammal warmth

and its round lair

and its flaring territoriality

I watch the animal within,

I see it turn and curl,

I see it growl and snap

And I remind it

it doesn’t need to do that.

There’s a grand connection here,

there’s ample safety

and there’s peace.

No need to defend me —

the animal is free to sleep.

©Wendy Mulhern

May 17, 2017