Snakebite

Bitten by a cobra, the woman collapses.

A man sinks his determined mouth on the wound.

His panicked, sunburned face

sucking and spitting venom.

Naked Eve, tempted by the serpent and ejected.

Queen Cleopatra’s grieving hands exposed to asps.

Teenagers sinking Snakebite

drenched with cider and lager, throwing up.

I spy a winding snake, parting grass, twisting

sinuous into the river. Lidless eyes, glitter.

Snakes and ladders I’ve charmed up, slithered down,

Wound my way into your arms.

Unnerving blue eyes locked on mine.

My body discovered your flickering tongue

aspirating

this poisoned heart.