Wild Beast at Worship Training

Wild beast cornered
walls, table, chairs, people and belongings
all combine forces
all exits blocked
avenues to escape, to calm, to breathe
barricaded.

Eyes search constantly
lighthouse-lamp rotates
radar seeks out gap
all to no avail, no way out beckons
no cool air disturbs the screen
nothing left to do but wait
chew nervously on paws,
tug at claws,
as if to sharpen
to use to dig way out
away from hunters
who seek out their prey
with words, suggestions,
implications.

They expect you to share
their language, ideas, beliefs
and, though you clearly exhibit
caged animal
they see only
difficult, moody woman
While you climb the walls
only to fall back down
claws torn, limbs bruised
they simply hear you interact,
make observations,
nod,
agree.

You the watch the clock rotate
until it falls off its axis
summoning the end of entrapment
or at least the beginning of the end.

Eyes dart to the door,
scan across the blockade
return to see
a gap appear,
nose quivers as fresh air lures
you
towards
that space
and finally you can climb
the
stairs
again
walking upright on two feet
hand-in-hand with your partner
beast tamed
gradually
by love
safe,
nurturing
you return home.