Taxidermy

My friends suggested the words taxidermy, blind, whisper, rhinoceros, predator and miasma. Here's the poem I wrote:

Taxidermy

The little corner shop

On the Fifth Avenue:

Some painted letters,

Their faded hues.

I squint and read:

'Taxidermy'.

Stuffed and mounted!

Oh, dear me!

I step inside:

A blind salesman,

“Hello, how're you?”

I whisper to him,

“I'm fine, thank you.”

On his table,

A head, enormous:

Rhinoceros!

I look around:

What place is this,

Where predator and prey

Stand stiff and still!

The miasma of fur,

The glassed eyes,

The fake teeth,

The feral expressions.

How beautiful they are!

How beautiful they were!

I watch him caress

The back of a cheetah.

“For 8000 dollars,

you can take her.”

Her smooth hide,

My curious fingers

O, what a creature,

Wish I could take her!

I turn to leave,

The blind man chuckles,

“She doesn't go anywhere

I look after her,

She watches me here.”