14. in my next life
i want to come back as
a panther —
sleek fur and bunched
muscle, sharp fangs
curved talons
yellow eyes glowing
like coals
in a midnight face
i want to stalk
private jungles
creep deep in
green tangles
predatory, silent
as smoke
i want to lounge
high up in anonymous sal trees
dangling my paws
over moss carpets
barely moving
waiting for prey with
languid menace
