.......

Little bloodstreams are run by
clamoring mammals and reptilians
in a race to eternity

creaturely embraces release them
from under fngernails
and between lush lips
galactic dribbles from ducts
behind tears that have not yet opened

scales on fur and fur on flickering tongues
a star's collapse in the back of a throat
veins on fire with branches, a leafless sky-path

.......