If I Bite by Jeffrey Park

If I bite, it’s only

because I’m

afraid

and not because I want

to hurt you

or because you taste

good, not in that way,

or because I’m teething

or have rabies

or want to see how well aligned

my teeth are

and not because I love

simply adore

to hear you yelp in sudden

pain, I’m just

afraid

afraid of what I might do

if I suppress the urge

to bite.