I am light brown with shining eye.  A small rodent some might call me.
Though small I may be, I live in everyone
Beneath the cracks in the darkest rooms of the word,
I scurry to those who need my comfort
And they embrace my touch.

The lion always chases me.  He despises me.
Yet he fears me, one so small.
The black lion, dark as night
I am his mortal enemy.

Most of the time I hide in the shadows
People look to me
To see what they truly are
And the deepest reaches of what is it to be human
Flow forth from me.

The lion never ceases, never stops
Always frantically trying to extinguish my flame
I will never die
I live in us all and I scurry this earth
My comfort helps those in need
Beneath the cracks in the darkest rooms of the world.

Standing outside the coliseum
He wipes his tattered brow
As he waits in chains
And what remains
Of a worn and used nightgown

The oak doors creak as they slowly bow
He walks the axis road
The dogs at his heels, he knows, he feels
Pains that have been bestowed

A table is set upon which blades rest
The choice of which he makes
He reaches forward, picks up the sword
No room here for mistakes

The helmet is hot, he feels his breath
As he walks upon the field
He is a trapped snake inside a crate
He raises up his shield

His adversary stood there watching
With a shaking fretful eye
They prepared to fight until deaths bite
Took and run them dry

With one fell swing of the sword
He brings his foe down
The steel glistens in the sunlight
Enhanced with the smell of blood

The crowd cheers and roars
What do they know of it?
The life he has taken
It cannot be replaced

He is trapped inside
He cries for freedom inside
Slowly he dies inside
Inside himself.

I pondered, pained, to see him kneel,
And talk of growing old -
I didn't think I'd like the feel
Of water running cold.

He caught the look at once and smiled,
And said: 'But nevermind -
There's warmth to hold and cherish, child,
In what you leave behind.'

He wrapped me in his arms with pride,
And said: 'And don't forget -
A hug can keep me warm,' he sighed...
'A little longer yet.'

Subtle signs can be seen in everyday life
If you look left and right and listen closely
You can see and hear it in how people act
When they stare into your eyes as cold as steel
You stare straight into their soul
When they seem so nervous sitting by you
You know something is amiss
So listen closely and try to find them
Because they buzz all around us
And if we can act of conjecture
Then we may save ourselves sooner or later

Steamy and hot,
The lady shouts two cents, no! three!
For the loaf of bread
People bustling everywhere
Where they are going, no one knows.

The air smells of baked goods and ashy smoke
Vendors call and cry
An old woman covered in a scarlet shawl
Examines a basket of fresh dates
20 cents a pound

Two people are bent over an old tattered rug for sale
With the design of a fiery dragon on the side.
Only 10 dollars.

Letters and fliers blow across the cobbled street
And the sun beats down
Upon ripe grapefruits
And shining sugar coated buns

The Baker Square;
Where I grew up

The sweet sussurro of the willows weeping
What sadness echoes in their mourning song
And as I stand beneath their hollow shade
I realize we are not two, but one