Civilisation

a room is after all a place where you hide from the wolves

- Jean Rhys

Woof! Look, you’re just a dog,
Large, it’s true, but hardly scary.
Just. Keep away. From the door. Please.
There’s nothing for you here.

I don’t know why you’ve come,
We’re hardly a catch, nutritionally
Jaded by the toxins of modern life.
You’d find more protein in our rats.

We have some here, I’m sure, just sniff.
They live in the shadows, never appear.
Bite-sized, I know, compared to us,

But much more organic, I’m sure you agree.

Is there no other way than
To let you in? To savage them?
Naturally, you’ll honour our agreement.
A wolf’s word. I’ll open the door, so…