coyote; (an anecdote of my mind)

sometimes i will take the skin of my second knuckle between my teeth, pulling it away from the bone and gnawing as if it is meat. i look down on my creation - bruised teeth marks, burst blood vessels, skin gone pale and tender in the centre - and i'm truly reminded of strength and fragility. it's like how a coyote sinks its teeth into the flesh of a lamb.
i am the coyote and i am the lamb.
i am the predator of only myself, and i am the prey to only myself.
and i'm reminded of the teeth i bare,
and the flesh i own,
and i could tear chunk from chunk of myself, and i have before;
but i don't.

06/23/23
- ch.rlie