LIONESS Poem by Barbara Korun

The lioness is my love for you, the tawny lioness
with her golden skin, her golden eyes.
She walks by my side always;
when I sit down to rest she lies beside me,
her face by my leg like a loyal dog.
I play with her, I lie down between her great paws
and let her toss me like her cub.
I feel the weight of her great paws,
the sharp precision of her claws.
I taste dead meat on her breath.

Now she is dying, the tawny lioness.
More and more she falters behind me,
hurrying to catch up with me when I rise.
I see the clotted blood that beads her snout.
She lies there on her side, she raises
her yellow, waning gaze to me.
I ask her: Where has your strength gone?
Where has your voice disappeared to?
I lay myself down between her weary paws,
I close my eyes with hers.