lily nods and says
birds are alright but
what of snakes..
i had forgot

till a star reminded me-
i was bitten by one-it
was scuttling past and i
gave it assistance

putting him somewhere safe
(away from the concrete
and heat..)
i grabbed his tail and he

spun round and sunk his
fangs into my hand..
i admonished him gently
and gently prised his jaws

apart..what a delicate beauty
the skull possessed,then, put him
in the weeds and he sped off
without a backward glance..

ii

poetry magazines might
like that..
or is there a club..

i prefer bens to be
honest
or one of teds..