I. Laughter

Flick of silver fur
Padding feet
A tumble through the underbrush
Laughing foxenlike
Teasing with a whip of the tail
And fleeing to be caught again
Rolling in a tunble of silver and red
Rippling with the joy
Of this moment among all moments.

II. Contest

Iridescence tight-stretched
Dragonwings in flight
Sunlight through them like psychosis-
Unbelievable, dangerous, vivid
A wing dipping to coil the beast
Perfection in motion
Glory in power
A long-fanged grin greeting in exhibition
Inviting the bravest of partners
To match the dance
And win her.

III. Forgetfulness

Who needs drugs when there are eyes like that
To make entrancements?
Or a voice like that to murmur
Sweet nothing, utter meaninglessness
And gentle hands like those to take mine
Not letting go
Arm wrapped around my waist
Lips to my cheek, my throat
Gathered in and letting life drain away
In the ecstasy of oblivion.

IV. Control

My smile neither kind nor cruel
Each touch I make an experiment -
A fingernail run - thus -
A twitch there -
A quick touch there -
A quiet moan.
Study of reactions
My fascination,
Your madness
Bound and chained in silk
You are nothing if not mine.

V. Terror

What is this beneath my claws?
I wonder what it does -
Is it good to eat?
Would its blood run sweet in my mouth
Its flesh suit my taste?
Now it speaks
Begging for life -
How droll.
I spare it for now, a nip of jaws
Against throat
My reminder
And command it to run
So that I may chase it, to capture
Again.

VI. Mastery

I kneel, as is fitting
Heart pounding
I bite my tongue
So as not to beg for command
Plead to know if I please
Such is not my place
Not now
As I await my Master's bidding
Gazing steadfast obedient
Praying for approval in the eyes of the god
Expecting no mercy
I wait
Patient.

VII. Trust

I see nothing
I do not move
Wrists bound above me
Ankles below
Awaiting sensation
Touch
Sound
Keeping in faith I will be unharmed.

VIII. Betrayal

Hand on my shoulder
Implacable
Twist behind the eyes
Arm around mine
Entrapping
Forcing me back
Holding
Voilence, rage, in the shaping of movements
Take what would be given willingly
Wrested out of control
Into silence.

IX. Consummation

Hand over a shoulder
Caress of a cheek
Yours or mine
Irrelevant to this
Connection
Sunlit love
Gentle touch
Quiet passion in this
Sweetest of seductions.

- 7 June, 1998