For wisdom's sake - Shakespeare's Monkeys

for wisdom's sake

draft

Pallas wipe your brow and drop your sweat
upon my lips, that your wet wisdom might
save me from love, from touch, from sin, and still
leave my soft words, my dreams, and war. sweet war.

E'er owl dark wings from highest birch to lair
of rodent ready perched for sprint to nut,
what wisdom holy goddess dost thou hold
that may yet save a mouse from taloned truth?

Your precious owl soon gnaws sinew from bone,
but no reply from you, dear sweet wisdom.
Only war? Cold blood? and love. and love. and love?
Only this: your sweat upon my dry cracked lips.

Aphasic -
Dost thou hold dear godess?

La-shout -

Hmm...quite a few images this conjures up. And yes love...the ultimare {my word by the way} (and ultimate) night warrior but owls do upchuck bones and for wisdom's sake it's quite proper. You mention lips twice in this perhaps another word may suffice. Would you consider:"Pallas wipe your brow and drop your sweat upon my chops, that your wet wisdom might...". That image fits in (somehow) with bone and sinew...how ultimately bizzaro!

~Flash~

Anstey -
Thank you both! VERY helpful comments.

Aphasic -
Sorry about me Stephan - I've just re-read (after your comment update) and wondered if you're looking for consistent metrical form...a suggestion for one line - it doesn't add anything substantial, but seems to sound better on reading:"...that yet may save a mouse from taloned truth?". Strike that...for last 2 lines of S2.
"What wisdom dearest godess dost thou hold/that yet may save a mouse from taloned truth?" Maybe not what you're looking for, but it does mean that S2 scans consistently (that is, if you're writing in iambic pentameter, which is how most of it reads).
Again, apologies for another intrusion into this space (you did label it as a 'draft') - I should go write something of my own (mantra:write something every day, however weak, diseased or lame). I think I'll aim for lame...go out on a limb, distress my feet

Anstey -

I label most everythign draft, your'e never intruding. Thank you for the tips.

Anstey -
And without any shame i steal your suggestion. Thank you dear.