Bad Teacher

Allow me to stumble
On that word shootin'
Out your snake mouth.
Paaa...
Boo...
Lum...
I grapple at my own deafness,
Already fearing the salt that might be.
You jerk your jaw into exotic steel,
As your thoughts glisten
With blood not shed as yet.

SAY THAT LIKE PAIN WOULD SEARCH
FOR AN EARNEST CONCLUSION,
WANTING A LETTER.

I see you shine in that metaphor,
Your command no less than
A lion's slicing roar.

SAY THAT LIKE DEW WOULD
UNDO ROMANCE, TO STEP BACK
AND STARE.

Soaked in imagination,
The next one arrives without
Permission.

SAY THAT LIKE YOU
MEANT TO SAY IT, NOT HOW...

And I growl the forest out
Of me -

YOU ARE A PALE SHADER
THAN THEIR MAKE OF ME!

Slow isn't what I will allow
Myself to be.