(inspired by the Kavanaugh hearings and other true co-occurring life events)

that season began as any other
with dancing
on the hilltop overlooking the black river
jumping hedges, hedging bets
talking about love and death and sharing music in between

that season I dreamed nothing
or only of wild things running free in fingers
a leopard I let loose from its cage that tore my body clean in half on the same patio I sipped lemon seltzer
never trust a free will
in love or otherwise
even tamed circus lions will bite your head off
after licking your face with affection
after jumping through hoops of fire
into your arms only

that season ended in testimony
white daisies shaking in the breeze and clouds ovaling out into smoke rings
someone else’s God blew into the sky
like the Caterpillar, interrogating Alice
'Keep your temper,' said the Caterpillar
'Is that all?' said Alice, swallowing down her anger as well as she could.
how do you kill something?
fill it with love
fill it with something that looks like love
let it spill its guts
let it lend its soul
call it a tie
call it a lie
bare your teeth
stand for nothing
and leave