Tiger
There is a tiger in my belly
a steady growl churns
my insides the claws
clench into me knife-sharp
curves I know
he is awake.
There is a memory
crouched low abdomen
grazing earth bones
taut angles eyes lit
on prey brain fixed
on survival body snapped
forward crazed instinct
swift chase vicious
attack pierce rip jerk
violence casual skillful
artful and utterly
guiltless hunger satisfied.
There is a tiger in my belly
he does not understand
my shrinking shame
my small sacrifices
of self. He snarls
at those I call friends
that leave me hungry.
He flexes his claws
restless and moody
the way a housecat
massage-pricks the legs
of someone from whom
it expects a meal
or a kinder touch.