The Snake and the Rat
The shadow moving
In the corner of my vision
Was the Snake.
Like a magician's slight of hand
It acted
With only unconscious consent
To take away
The thing I cherished.
I did not know
That thing
Was the Rat
Until I found the carcass, in the dark dirty corner,
From where my gaze was diverted.
I'd protected it -
You know, I'd thought
I'd put a treasure there for safe keeping.
It was a dirty Rat
and when I saw the naked socket
where the Snake's venom had corroded flesh
I saw exposed the ugly truth beneath my sentimentality.
My skin crawled at the sight
Of my Rot, and
I recoiled -
I was afraid of His potent death life magic.