A Love Story

a zebra fell in love with a lion.
her flight was suspended
by his charge.

'are we that different?'
she flutters her dark eyelashes.
'i can be fierce.'
she stomps her hoof and swishes her tail.

the lion admires her stripes.
and laughs at her declaration.
'i could teach you to be brave.'
his confidence is brimming.

'the fear you incite,
might protect me.'
she considers.
'sometimes I tire of always running.'

'i'll keep you safe.'
he whispers.
'i'll always have your back.'

and so for a time,
they wander side by side.
and the zebra lies down with the lion.

she pulls out his gentleness,
a little at a time.
he pushes her to attack
and demand respect for her tenacity.

but this love can't last forever.
she is breaking under the pressure,
returning to her flight.
he can't bear the newfound pain
of watching her slip away.

'Go.'
he retreats toward his solitude.
she feels her instinct returning
as she watches him slink away.

'you said you'd always have my back.'
she calls,
watching the space grow between them.
her body is trembling,
'run, run, run' is all she can hear.

'i will.'
he thinks.
'but if i can't be a lion,
and you can't be a zebra,
what will we ever be together?'

'i always told you i was a zebra!'
she defends.
'and i only asked you to be a lion.
but i will always be a zebra,
how could i ever believe i'd be safe with you.'