Oh serpent, what cross you bear
catalyst to human frailties
a snake in the grass
tempting Adam and Eve
to eat from the tree of knowledge.

Fast forward to now
forked tongue hissing
quiet words spoken, speaking ill of others
cowardly tones, sotto voce, afraid to speak a truth
snake in the flesh we think
no trust, cold eyes
a shadow slithering amongst the crowds
bully skin snake
pushing your weight around
when you do speak, hypocrite
a church going southern boy
snake in the flesh
buying the girls for a night.

Serpent  we do you an injustice
for honest you are, venom and fanged teeth
a rattle warning sometimes
we know where we stand
we keep our distance, safe
separate from
snake in the grass.

Your kin folks back home
they have no choice
holding you hugging you
the only fangs they see
or choose to see
are the ones tattooed on your arm
a snake biting, poisonous, a slow death
snake in the flesh
if only you would look in the mirror
slither into your truth
then the snake, the snake bite of your illusions
might perish,
a snake in the grass
a snake in the flesh no more.


Malcolm Davidson Feb 15th 2014