teach me he says

but he doesn’t say what

you are great he says

but he doesn’t say why
stop killing he says

but he doesn’t say that
read my story he says

I’m sorry for hate
make me the hero
make me see new
tricks that I jump through
teach me he says

when what he means
is love me this instant

you are brilliant he says
what he means is “light me”
he is burrowing now

when he should be spiraling

I watch from the sidelines
his eager following
I paw the earth

like a stallion unknowing

what will become of
this jockeying friendship

him or me discovers foreboding
marauding in kinship
boots on the ground
or weak backyard sunsets

if you kill or be killed

you will never rest

if you cleave to the common

you’ll have missed the arabesque

dismissed the bowman

danced in a hall all alone

loved if you will

by nothing but song