Bark

Incessant vibrant chatter

Captivates me 

Tempting me out into the   

Embracing space   

Naked supple limbs 

Hide behind ranks 

Of overlapping armour links 

Green leaves leave no chinks 

For light to slink away, wasted.   

The whites of your eyes 

Clear and stark 

Against those black ovals, 

So dark 

You have entranced me into the open   

And here I stand swaying

Petrified. Euphoria 

Dies with the setting sun 

And that hardening confidence, 

That was so clean and strong 

Has crumbled

Away 

To leave a soft, dank, 

Arrogance   

Distressed by desolate winter 

Circles of thought spiral away 

Fluttering as I fritter away my time 

Stripping me, stiff and splintered 

Teased by the whispering wind, 

As I flail to catch lost seconds   

This desperation disrobes me 

Revealing, 

oval by bright oval, 

Your name Carved deep