Her eyes trace the intricate
curves and flourishes
of his quick sketch, penned
while she languished on his bed:
mythical dragon, its volcano
mouth spews a lava of flames.
Fearsome stretch of wings,
a bellows of power.  Claws ready
to rip and gut.

She slides her fingers
over the lines, wanting
to decipher
this Braille of him, this
silent roar.

He says it doesn’t mean
anything; he draws to amuse
himself.  A flash of defiance,
like a struck match, warns her off.
The dragon wants its cave.