Spikes

On ledges & edges

Warding off the birds

On roses & cacti

Warding off the herds

On hedgehogs & blow fish

Preventing predation

On hearts & minds

Growling up intimidation

Displaying their defenses

Elongation of shapes

Pushing out the distance

For an intimacy escape

“Do not consume me!”

Spikes bellow & screech

“Do not come near!”

Spikes take stance & preach

Spikes on a graph or of fever

A sudden change of measure

Spikes of drink or punch

A sudden intensity of flavor

Ice climber with spikes

Attachment to mountain

Or Spikes worn Cleated

For garden aeration

Sharply pointed, prickly

A Needling of pain

Penetrating spikes, tickly

contact of intimacy gain

Spikes may fend away

Or become enmeshed

Keeping the world at bay

Or interconnect, enfleshed

Perhaps Spikes of crucifix

Metaphoric self sacrifice

Death of ego, For Life beyond

Dying into higher calling,

Crystalline spike of eternal edifice