A leopard.

Tearing out my hair, 
Gritting my teeth, 
Clenching my fists, 
Making dents in walls, 
Ripping apart people, 
With a venomous tongue, 
Pushing them away, 
With shoves that could break hearts. 

Heart beating in my mouth, 
Seeing a red mist. 
Palpitations in my ears, 
Blood pressure through the roof. 
Breaking shot glasses on a bar, 
Slamming them down too hard. 
Breaking bedsteads, with angry sex, 
Whilst trying to picture a face. 

Snarling comments, 
Biting remarks, 
Just for asking how I am. 
Playful punching 
Becomes hard hitting. 
Kicking furniture out of my way, 
Joking smiles, jovial laughs, 
Taken out of context. 

Taking everything personally, 
Trapped inside blood red walls, 
Lashing out at every one, 
Driving way too fast, 
Taking corners on two wheels, 
Virtual fears of the brakes.  
Not caring if I explode 
In a glorious burst of flames. 

Sideways glancing, 
Whispers behind hands, 
Not hoping, not thinking. 
Because I know it has become real, 
Now, you connect the dots. 
A leopard can change its home, 
A leopard can change its heart. 
But that leopard will always have 
The same dark, ominous spots.