Snake Swing
Snake Swing
I’m trying to get a little shuteye under this tree
but the snake insists on talking,
hanging from her tail & forking her tongue at me.
Its time to shed that shit, she says.
You’re stuck
& the reason is very simple –
you don’t have the stuff
to just step out of that fakeskin
and slither away.
Remember your old slither sounds?
You were full of them once –
swirl and slake and lithe and unleashable –
because whoever saw a snake on a leash!
I suggest you slide on out of yours
and decorate yourself up a lamp post.
Put your tail in your mouth & roll your own.
Go on, rustle up something tasty.
Something with ssss’s in it. Maybe an mmmmm.
Oh, it’s such a catchy tune she sings,
with her little red fangs tickling the ivories,
I say to her,
I’ll give you this tree to live in
& you can help me eat all the apples.
Nope, she says.
I just showed up
to check out this fine garden you inherited.
But remember, honey –
& she does that Lauren Bacall thing with her hips
as she slides out the gate –
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.
I love your muse when she shakes and rolls.
p.s. I couldn’t sign up is there a glitch?
Thank you, Judy! But as to signing up, when you tried to put your email address and name in the little box on the left, what happened? I’m seeing names signing up, so it must be working for some people.
I’ve added you by hand, Judy. But if anyone else is having the same problem, please let me know!
“decorate yourself up a lamp post”! Lovely and twangy and curly and writhe-y and thoroughly you.
Thank you, Sandra! Let’s decorate ourselves up a lamp post together one of these days and sssssing!
Ruth – I loved this poem the first time I read it. I love it even more today. I really enjoy “Put your tail in your mouth & roll your own.”
Roll on! XOXO Lisa
Thank you, Lisa! Snakey advice for us all in the new year!
love that you are doing this, Ruth! and love this poem! so glad that I am officially signed up. you are a poetry rock star!
Thank you, Michelle! You’re the blogisattva, though!