Poem 4

There was a thorn

Locked in my throat,

Barricading lungs

Weak and foreboding.

There was a puddle

Of burned out oil at

My quivering paws.

I could still taste the

Line of smoke from

Those searing flames,

Scuffed ears flattened

And weary vision red-hot.

The farmer.

He went out the

Backdoor, returning

At the break of dawn

With a fury in his eyes.

Cold skin rough,

Breathing labored,

Tongue as brash as

A slamming door.

I ran fast.

Over the hill,

Beyond the

Woods and

Rocky river.

The farmer didn't

Just swing his iron

Fists, he broke down

Everything in sight.

Including that

Heavy can of oil.

He was a lighter,

A burner, crashing

On the porch floor

With blood dripping

From his head.

The thick blood ran

As fast as I did.

...

I stood still for

All but a moment

Before yowling,

As if there was

Fire scorching my

Blue-gray fur and

Ashes beneath my

Thorn-pricked paws.

I ignored the gasps

Surrounding me and

Fled, breathing ragged

And heart thumping,

Ocean eyes flashing.

I saw it clearly.

There was blood

Dripping down his

Head as he lay there,

Still and motionless.

Just like the farmer.

My lungs burned

As I faintly heard

Footsteps nearing

Behind my tail.

How do I breathe?

There's too much

Leftover smoke.

My breathing

Faltered as

A figure came.

...

There was a hand,

Waving in front of me.

Human skin,

Worn and cold.

I reared back, my

Paws still battered

And oozing red

From the flames

And the bushes.

Not to mention

Scarred from

Those bottles

He would throw.

I shook violently.

Humans are

Brash-lipped,

Iron fists brutal

When their palms

Are tightly closed.

I blinked.

His palm was open.

...

He spoke in that

Foreign tongue, his

Voice a deep rumble.

"Breathe."

I steeled myself.

His eyes were

An ashen brown,

With dusted gray

Shadowing the irises.

The man seemed to

Be the shortest among

The rest of the humans.

His expression was

Earnest and true,

Like forest wind.

I batted his open

Palm with a paw.

He smiled, relief

Aglow in his gaze.

♡

Character Key (Based on Eye Color):

Ashen Brown/Dusted Gray- Ryoma