a wary child
who flashed from nowhere

a thrill
a glint of joy

where? where?
we all said

the light had changed
we were not sure

fact was doubted
nothing proved

we squirmed our attention to this to that
distracted ourselves

set traps
lured it

slinking up the child took our food
we watched it steathily

its eyes were blades
they brushed across us

made thin cuts we knew we would feel
much later

it drooled through teeth not sharp but effective
it grinned

its happy mouth satisfied with work
its dangerous eyes asking questions

what am I?
why do you stare?

can’t you see how
I would love you?

Poem by Jo Mariner / Image by Sion Edwards