Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Snake Like Charms

Brown Snake, North Lake



Somewhere close, the part
secret of two naughty boys
in gumboots standing on small
tiger snakes’ heads


If you hadn’t shouted
Stop, I wouldn’t have

This one was huge and brown
almost three metres long, slick
umber body languid across the path

As my eyes measured the extent
from visible to obscured, her body
hooked back on itself, arcing
sharply to rise above a shrub

Head, still as stone, tongue
tickling air. A question raised
at my daughter’s fleshy thigh
clamped hard around my waist.

My slackened state shot through
again. Frozen before another
mother, willing my burden to be

still. Then, a place behind my ribs
which might conduct a hush

But more, the wild impossibility
of stepping away







SAVE BEELIAR WETLANDS














.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Gripping story line, descriptions come alive. Curious re title...if tale is a metaphor for fear...is title a sarcastic one? In any case, strong write!

Amanda Joy said...

Thanks Lana! So lovely to read your comment in here!

rooster peabody said...
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rooster peabody said...
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rooster peabody said...
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