Poem #197

deliciously vicious
beta wolf shows his teeth
his insubordination is personal
unlike that of omega wolf
he pictures his triumph:
he tastes the flesh of alpha wolf
and saliva drops over his lip
he savors the elasticity of meat
and bits get stuck in his teeth.
beta wolf might not be the next alpha
but the takedown is his only wish

Poem #196

3 hens settle in for the night
clicking and clacking the day’s gossip
rooster cried all morning about chicks
horse tripped in the mountain’s ride
spider’s web was ruined after a day’s work
the hens clucked raucously, pitying the folly
but, they hadn’t done anything that day