you were not my prey
on this long hot day
though it seemed you
sensed you were
skittering in front of me
on the trail forever
or at least 1000 seconds--forever
in lizard time
perhaps you knew who I was, a reptile killer
since the dawn of man
or since my perverse pubescence, when I'd hunt
whiptails and rattlers
and take prickly pride in how many of you
my .22 Ruger would slaughter
I have that time hidden in gray folds
beneath an old skull
I don't carry the weapons of war,
anymore
but I can't deceive you, not in the naked
light of the sun
you were right to run; though I have concealed
my blood lust, you know it is still there
May 13, 2017
May 13, 2017 at 6:12 PM UTC
you were not my prey
on this long hot day
though it seemed you
sensed you were
skittering in front of me
on the trail forever
or at least 1000 seconds--forever
in lizard time
perhaps you knew who I was, a reptile killer
since the dawn of man
or since my perverse pubescence, when I'd hunt
whiptails and rattlers
and take prickly pride in how many of you
my .22 Ruger would slaughter
I have that time hidden in gray folds
beneath an old skull
I don't carry the weapons of war,
anymore
but I can't deceive you, not in the naked
light of the sun
you were right to run; though I have concealed
my blood lust, you know it is still there
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