he grows among bark and screech
and other natural prayers of the dark
a deliberate root
with the will and skills for wilderness
all make-up scrubbed from the heart
his hold is surer than the collar
once rounding him to other intention
another stray safely in the fold
ash on hands and earth under nails
he wears the anointing of place
and in the fire he’s built for company
animals are born to burn as revelation
random shapeshift ghosts
glowing a dream geometry