The Ofi Press Magazine

Poem by Bethany Pope (UK)

Published in The Ofi Press issue 41

Appetites 

In dreams, I run in the body of a fox; a male 
with a thick red bush and a hungry mouth. 
My teeth are sharp. Your bones are pale, 
rabbit; so white in all that red. Your little fluff-tail 
twitches in the spattered snow as you claw your torn body south. 
In dreams, I run in the body of a fox; a male, 
ripe with strength and rank with stale- 
smelling hormones. I'm following your path. 
My teeth are sharp, your bones are pale, 
but you're not afraid. You're a bitch, here; beautiful and hale, 
and you've got steaming, fragrant genitals to taunt me with. 
In dreams, I run in the body of a fox; a male: 
I mount you while we sleep. Our bodies thrash and flail 
until one takes the other in their mouth. 
My teeth are sharp, your bones are pale. 
We come to swift agreement. Love leaves a trail 
for us to follow. It leads from mind, through flesh, to truth. 
In dreams, I run in the body of a fox; a male. 
My teeth are sharp. Your bones are pale.