The hunter

I

 Naked.

 Cold.

Skin clamped
to the bones!

He was dying,

the past had robbed 

his youth
and glory.

His world eclipsed 

by a deceptive 

feminine smile.

He hungered,

the pain grew.

He fought it 

dragged it 

and fed it to 

the heart,

his faithful

leashed and chained

and set out for the 

 hunt 

II

She swayed her hips

the hunter sensed it 

his hungered 

tugged at the leash.
The heart 
growled
baring fangs
as she cocked her head
and swayed her hips
even more. 
Her skin
rosy!
fragrant!
Her hair
tumbling down
endlessly. 
The growling persisted
but was weakening.
The chain links
breaking down.
The leash
useless.
The hunt
endless!
Fruitless!
The heart
glowing, beating, heating up
once again

III

Leave me be,
he roared.
She whimpered
He stumbled
The invisible knife
twisted
his heart
 red.
She savoured it
He missed it,
failing once more
to see
 deception
lurking within
the delicate
mould.
 Tears sparkled
her eyes.
The hunt was over
The hunter ensnared
The stripping
begun
once again.

A smile that grew

... into affection
the little paw
that fit into a palm
snug
and
safe
reassured,
his gaze intent
and his lips
spread into a toothless grin
that
reflected
and radiated
on the face above
the mother wore a smile
a smile that grew ...

Delighted!

Three of the four bulbs I've planted are blooming. A long but rewarding wait.