predator

A difficult experience on the subway today sparked this one about reliving prior assault.

she stands, still, one hand perched

all claws and talons, almost human;

almost a bird, sneakily; a predator-

 

while my guard is down, back turned,

and you at home, pretending again,

she swoops down and scoops me up-

 

pulls at my skin and opens me out

one particle at a time; she explores,

unwanted, unbidden; revisited-

 

unexpected, a scattered memory

digging away, unburying fractions

of a woman 10, 000 miles from home-

 

all claws and talons; almost human;

almost a bird; she stands, still,

her perched hand is holding me down.

Author's Note

As always, all polite/relevant reviews are welcome - including constructive critique, grammar and spelling corrections. Finally, thank you for taking the time to read/leave a review!

Reviews

[Larry Dyson]

holding down with one casual perched talon..in your space in your face...very well developed..details are just enough to hold Me suspended..nice!

[brenda]

dang! suspenseful poem i loved it !:)

[Poeticadia]

On reading this i was first reminded of Leda and the Swan... the "holding down" of prey, the intense intrusion into private space with its never ending visitation on memory. It has such a powerful atmosphere of tension and personal invasion. Very effective writing and wonderfully crafted... it lingers long after it has been read.