courtesy of the dogs
I bow before you
courtesy   of the sharks
I bow before thee
in the graven midnight fire
the pressure has assumed mountainous
     forms.

we are tested severely and
     continuously.

courtesy of the hyenas
I bow before you and thee
courtesy of the snakes and the lepers
courtesy of courtesy
I bow and bow and bow

bow
wow
ow

such an immense
     confrontation–

going mad is too easy
suicide is too
     ordinary

that
the sky stands there
the way it does
is an insult to
me
as

the unacceptable stalks
     us.