it holds me
captivated
dusty and pink
swirling
looping
over my eyes
thank you
thank you
I clap
noisy and satisfied

my chalk-coated hands
flung wide
sudden
as i fall
frozen
quiet
and breathless

my knee
my wrist
scrape
hard and bloody
on the
gritty cold cement
roll over
rock back
i begin to cry
it hurts

i see
the head
curving
the golden-brown coil
pretty
and my
father's
stern face
the gaul
my warrior
staring down at the
snake lying
still
shriveled
and
baleful

and dead

i look at it
at my father's rubber feet
at his huge knotted
hands
and the copperhead shovel

i am lifted up
soothed
and i bury
my face
in his
curling
graying
hair