I'm awful at allegories

I tracked down a Lion once

Wrapped his paws in linen

And dragged a carcass into the room

So we could sup and speak 

He spoke of platitudes and psalms

That wriggled like earwigs

As I sipped my tea

With pinky extended 

He told me of stars and the thunder

That swept over his savannah 

Like a wave of relief

And the flash that lit the night

He sang of cicadas and locusts

Playing feathered violins

As the wind ran its fingers

Through grass fit to burn. 

He gave me tinder for my Father's house

And told me not to light it. 

Flicked a cigarette into the cloth on his claws

And looked to the stone door of the cave.

I wanted to tell him my story.

The little boy and the big man

The sister and brother

The people who claw and bite and share and dance

Instead I kept my lips tight.

What more could be said

To a creature both great and terrible

So alien and different

So set my saucer down,

And bid him good night.

I stepped into the crush of rain

And let my fears melt into sweat.

I wanted to tell him it's okay 

He can run.

Everybody does.