antlered with gold, my feet
shod with the stride of owning
each swathe of green, each dun herd
a thunder of hooves rolling
through forests, plains a wide back
and you, doe -- darting around
the yew, seeking the hunter
and the arrow in pursuit
of a mere yearling -- and you,
white tail flashing, scent on wind
until my spears reign you in
king stag and chariot spoked
with mandate, a scepter and
spearpoint in the gut of the
challenger, rutting ram, king
of the crag who orders roads
of stars and what they ordain
i want only what is mine
and it is all mine -- vastness,
the vault of the firmament
the doe, penned in her forest
cage. from birth she waits for me --
choice is the province of kings
and you, as you dart behind
the green hedge, the cage unlatched --
a pale blue shell in my palm.
ownerless, i will fold each
finger into a fist
and crush your heart into yolk