The fables, fantasies, facts, figures
of their disparate discordant parts
the habits and traits of the lions
who form their face and forequarters
the anatomy, physiology, pathology
of their goatish unlovely midsection
myth and rumor of fire-breathers,
reports of the serpent at their tail
pondering particulars of precursors
each singular in shape and purpose
as if knowledge could undo the truth
of their own mangled mongrel self
as if they could ever be enough,
as if they could ever be whole.