Without Pride

I.
African king with his lioness tread high water

To prey where they please.

Were this hunger a disease, 

Salt blown in from the sea might appease

The parasitic need settling into his mane.

But, as it were, this hunger was more criminal 

Than it was a cancer.

Now, just two cats stray from a hot den,

whisker-dripping with refuse, 

a souring piece of American pie caught in the mange—

Can you imagine? 

A lion without his pride.

When my father hunts, 

I worry his hind paws will snag in the hindsight 

While his fore paws claw aimless as if 

racing in repose.

(Pray tell, against whom?

and I will charge their den for you.)

And what of my mother?
Modern Sarabi of sorts, mourning her king
(though still among the living.)
So when I say I am so sorry
what I mean is:
I would split my soul in two for you

that you may rest in this divide.

II.
I am wolf blood racing fear
and born of two lost lions;
yet you ask,
why this rage?


About: A family of lions is also referred to as a pride.

Postscript: Though spirit is undetectable to the human body, it alone, is thicker than blood.