She weeps silently, enraged, for her lover
as mourners do for their dead
and in a sense he is dead
for he may breathe walk talk
and go about his business
like other living mammals
but the man who swept her off her feet
romancing her with flowers
candlelit dinners weekend getaways
to cabins in the mountains
and hotel rooms by the shore
won her over loving her day by day
that man is no more
his collective cells having sloughed off one by one
transforming him into this new creature
who only happens to resemble
her deceased paramour
only with much less hair and a bigger belly
this new being seven years in the making
retains some of the eating habits
and behavioral patterns
as is only expected of evolutionary occurrences
but with some added twists and she’s sure
some genetic changes and/or mistakes
he shouts whiskey tinged taunts
exhaling smoke from some inner fire
smoldering indefatigable
while shaking his fists and thrashing about
as though trying to establish himself
as the alpha male of some unfortunate pack
(pack, for certainly they do not hunt alone)
and weeping silently enraged
she stands her ground will not lower her eyes
she refuses to become his prey.

© Crystal S. McDonald.