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.