He plays dangerous
with the lion all day,
clawing intentions
for meat.
He is predator arrow
and prey to the teeth,
roaring war mask
unmelted by the heat
sweating jungle.
At night under leaf
the boy dreams
swirling rhythms
of beasts.
Their hearts beat one
skin-stretched drum
until morning.
II.
Welcoming night,
the street holds
an eye open.
The boy without
a beast doesn’t sleep,
he only has fear
of the heat.
City steel cracks
the drum beating thuds
of a random heart.
Gun shots
without warning.
