Poem

Ugly Animals

after Melanie Safka

 

Ugly animals
I die outside a different void than you
And you’ll know it
To be me after tonight
Such pride in your silence

 

Ugly animals
They refuse different walls
But it’s wrong
They always part after 
And before
They had always parted once

 

Since you’ll be brave I’ll cry against you
You will walk but refuse my feet
You’ll disperse me always
If alone
You’ll collect secrets reading

 

Ugly animals
Before I’ll be crowded out
Never again alone
Against a different secret -- mine!
Discouragement outside the nothings I refuse

 

Ugly animals
I walk a different bike path
But you don’t, not tonight
I hear everything
They had nothing to share
You stop in ways that I don’t

I won’t look after you
Certainly you won’t look after me

 

Ugly animals
I do not resemble your enemies
But it’s not spatial
No one’s thought it there or then
You refuse to, never and in no way
You’d departed
Refuse no one I have yet to meet
You had gathered secrets from
Nobody left to hide

Ugly animals
Always in packs
There was never anyone
Against a different secret, like mine
Refused outside nothing I don’t
No one stands apart from me
No one as ugly an animal
But when I’ve abandoned anyone
Certainly you’ve abandoned me
But when I’ve abandoned anyone
Certainly you’ve abandoned me