Kissing the whip

Lion

In my fancy
every black African has a lion.

You are walking with your lion
along the path
where i am lying face down
naked, hogtied, gagged.

You say to the lion: "Grab her!"
and the beast takes my neck between its jaws,
cautious not to hurt me,
but growling.

And now i am trembling
with my vulnerable throat in the lion's mouth,
waiting for your next word.