Like a lioness
Shielding her cub
With the length
Of her limb,
I shield them
They are one of mine—
Beaten and battered,
Weary and wilting—
I protect them
Do not confuse me
For the “pitiers”
Those who pride themselves
On stooping down
To help us, guide us
All the while,
Seeing us as their retribution,
Their ticket to heaven
I am not of them
Though
For the longest time, I wanted to be
Like them,
To be able
To be like them
I didn’t want my
Holy ticket
I just wanted to
Know
How it felt
How it felt
To help someone
“beneath” you
How it felt
To be the rescuers
How it felt
To save
Instead of being saved
But I have given up
Nonetheless
Yet
I try
I try to protect
My cubs
We have all
Gone hungry—
Gone hungry
To the point
Where death was
Preferable