We were partnered together

Me & lion

Timidly

I place my gloved hand

Near your large

Paw

Where you have claws

I have hidden

Myself

In leather

Our meeting

One of caution

If not fear

The radar says

Do not trust!

There will be

Betrayal

And loss

Ungloved

My hand

Reaches beyond the shadows

Of your cage

Flesh touches fur

As the radar screams

Caution!

Stop!

We touch

&

I feel the

Muscles in your

Feet

I feel the contours

Of your nose

This was not supposed to happen

Inter-species

Communion

I wasn’t supposed to

Unglove

You weren’t supposed

To sniff

My naked

skin

Our instincts tell us

Otherwise

As we follow a longing

As innocent

As love