Open Throat

by Henry Hoke

is there a warning sign for me is it this one

my mother taught me to hunt but my father taught me to be hunted

I can’t eat everything I’m afraid of

where was this water when we needed it when it could have helped

I have no idea what it’s like to be a person and to be confronted with a me

I try to purr and it comes out wrong I’m so good but things don’t get better