these nights a man might grow
back into a bird into a lizard
some feathered gator
razor teeth sitting waiting
that 2nd eyelid closed
at rest aware

it creeps up sudden-like
doesn’t skitter
no not some wharf possum
more like plodding focused

there is intent oh yes intent
the silent genes kick in
latent DNA manifests

you don’t notice
you’re not a man
you don’t notice
you’re resting
and your eyes are open
like a dog a hawk
a river lizard