Bear

on this dog day
this day of cloudless reeling 
where you send me 
without map or compass letters 
into the red water 
of your mescaline beauty 
where it is enough 
to sit next to it 
& feel the foolish tide, 
the safety of your 
animal slumber

this is fumbling
is fear
is your bending by
is too close to touch
straight on
this is shadow boxing 
your jaw with my eyes
this is the blind movement towards you
this is when i forget what my hands are for
this is when i have the dream
about your perfect teeth 
is slaughter
is when i need the rules most
lest i forget
which game
we are playing