Misspelled Love

A Poem by Swagato Saha

Inspired by Derrida's work "The Animal That Therefore I Am", this concerns the eternal chasm between the Subject and the Animal Other. Why are pets widely abused? Why is love oft violent... generally?

What silent thoughts must cross your mind?
As your gaze hangs by my shower blinds;
Or is it strange that I should find,
My honest skin obscene...?

Shall I sit you on my cottoned knees?
That cower to the fresh unease,
Of wounds your fangs once bore,
In fury; or a misspelled kiss?

Shall I court your flourished paw?
I know not yet what it says...
And all the wayward words I draw,
Can only feign some sorry sense!

(Then why pain you with twisted tongues?
For I sure show my share of wrongs,
In resorts to cries when meaning's failed;
My train of thoughts sorely derailed.)

So I hold dear your muzzled face,
Give your needled fur a caress,
While vigils of taut leashes press,
Charges of a violent love...