The Lynx Who Sees Us
Ivy Grimes

Lynx has two talents—
spying and making precious stones.
With his urine, he coats the world
in carbuncular glow.
With his stealth,
he sees your story
and makes a mystery of you.

He turns your heart
from something serious
into stuff and fumes.

You’re meaningless
unless you’re spied on.

It was his interest that gave us hubris,
and it was hubris that gave us comfort
in the last days when we had nothing.

Lynx, why do you turn us into stories
as you turn your urine
into gems? If your life is
watching others, why bother
making something beautiful?

In watching us, you drew us
into watching you, and when we saw
you were capable of magic,
we thought we were, too.

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