Cali-King Snake |
Like a broken twig
through the fine auburn
overbrush of thumb
and forefinger hoop,
the albino coral-
tubed coil snake
jabs bubble-studded
tongue at lash air.
With pinky sallow
brawny, yellow stitch
stripes encircling
pale flesh wrist like a
gelatinous bracelet,
like copper tincture
tortoise shells wrapping
into taut pastel
wreaths, she slippers on
pentagon she-belly
poising popple head,
sliding in ecto-
vein surges. Through the
hoop, under silver-
link watchband, over
freckled hand she ticks,
like shred shuck sloughs of
heather and stick pins.
copyright 2005
Laura A.
Lionello |