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As a boy, manhood stalked me

like a tiger…shadowy and fierce his approach

and short-lived the chase before I went down–

glassy eyes bulging and throat silent–

beneath  the violent overthrow of youth’s reign.

The cruel ordeal left me ravaged, unsure…thirsty.

I awake now (when I do awaken)

in an office full of books.

I have eaten all their pages and licked all their spines.

I have taken all their medicine…

but my dreams still bleed

and I wonder if I shall ever enjoy being a man

before I am very old.