the beast

i see the lion in its den
i know it is a lion, and what that implies
i want to touch it, to pet it, to be close to it again
but it is a lion, and i know what that implies
i have felt its fur on my cheeks, its warmth against my body and even its mighty embrace
but i have also felt its sharp claws, its bite, the bite that ripped my flesh
yet i want to touch it, to pet it, to be close to it again
even though it is a lion, and i know all that it implies
it beckons, it purrs and i stand outside the mighty beast's cage,
deciding if it is still a lion, if it is still all that it implies
i tell myself no, i give myself warnings, but the purring grows stronger
the memory of warmth and flesh is strong and yearnings are strong
i see the lion, i hear the lion, and i know all that it implies
but i step into the cage, even with admonishments fresh in mind
the lion purrs and warns, "i am a lion, i am all that it implies"
yet i reach out and stroke its mane, i pat its flesh and wait for the embrace
its paws wrap around me and hold me and the warnings are still not silent,
they still go on, for it is a lion, and i should know all that it implies
indeed i do, but i return the embrace anyway
and the lion smiles, as do i
and the lion's warning rings once more, "i am still a lion, i am still all that it implies"
i nod, understanding, but i do not leave the cage,
i do not rush out afraid that i'll get hurt, for it is after all a lion, and i fear what that implies
i should rush out but truthfully i dont want to rush out
it is nice in the lion's cage, it is nice in its embrace
i warn myself, to be careful, to not let its paws wrap around too tight,
to still be weary, to watch carefully its every move,
to watch carefully my every move, to not antagonize, to not get too close
its claws and jaws have have caused much pain, pain to painful to relive
should i wait in its comforting embrace for the inevitable bite
for it is a lion, and will be all that it implies
or should i leave with my flesh intact and unhurt
i stare the beast straight in the eyes as i feel its firm grip around my back
i question "how did i come to hug a beast like you"
maybe the fault is mine for walking into the cage and not locking it shut
maybe the fault is in the beast, the audacity of it purring and beckoning after tasting flesh
faults are tiring to deal with,
what i know is i am cheek to cheek with a lion, and i must be weary
weary not to give it a chance at my flesh once again, to not allow it to shred me to bits
for it is a lion, and that implies very much