A Cautionary Tale

Mary O’Malley

There was a heavy door That opened into a room -
A smoky room. Yes, even that.
A room from a faded photograph.
There were people ranged Around a long table.
Dull mahogony under a naked light Set off one man, a tiger's eye.
The woman entering tensed,
She sensed danger in the shadows Before she saw the dark man, Beautiful and hard as onyz.
She saw the jungle in his eyes But feeling kittenish, forgot
The other side of fangs
Sinking into a neck, and stayed;
Disremembering even the fur
That is always to be found Afterwards, uprooted on the ground When the wild cats tussle.