Serpent

Someone should
let a snake
through eternal life.
It would hiss
at a god, right under his knife,
whereas we
(gratefully)
would entreat to the steel -
no complaint
or restraint;
we could paint our own deal
in our favor, in blindness
to whether we gain -
whether what we're
receiving
is pleasure
or pain -
we can mask, hide, and wrap
things
in nine different ways;
we can shove them in bibles
or mute them with tape
over lips
in a silver
as quiet as rain.

But, when shown to the door
of the heaven it deemed
naught but tales, myth, and lore;
naught but wishes and dreams,
it would taint what it touched
and blend in with the clouds -
it would slither inside;
lie in wait on the ground -

not a human there was
wouldn't timber and kneel, but a serpent
like me
would bite god on the heel.



~

Age when written: 16