Life as an Animal

When the lizard brain awakes

and all that is human has fled

and we are reduced to our lowest form

scrabbling among the rocks

or slithering amidst the reeds

seeing with dull eyes set low

feeling the dry and the wet

hearing the silence and the sibilant

smelling the decay of the carrion

tasting the rot with relish.

When the lizard brain awakes

and all that is reason has gone

and we that are primitive arise

scrabbling into the sunlight

or slithering onto the warm sand

seeing shadows with with dim eyes

feeling pain with hard skin

hearing cries with covered ears

smelling lust within the musty

tasting the blood eagerly.

When the lizard brain awakes

and all that is enlightenment has darkened

and we blunder noisily in the night

scrabbling along the water's edge

or slithering into the wetness

seeing nothing in panic

feeling that which is unseen

hearing the sounds in the loudness

smelling both the prey and the hunter

tasting the empty snap of the jaws.

When the lizard brain awakes

and all that is civil has torn away

and we thrust away the broken soul

scrabbling after the prey

or slithering from the hunter

seeing the blood and the flesh

feeling the fear and the anger

hearing the whimper and the scream

smelling the terror and the fright

tasting the bitter and the sweet.

When the lizard brain awakes

and all that is us has left

and we are fear, pain, loathing and anger

scrabbling for the choicest bits

or slithering among the remnants of life

seeing what we want to see

feeling what we want to feel

hearing what we want to hear

smelling what we want to smell

tasting what we want to taste.