The Fear Inside

 
The ugliest little critter
I'd just shat out
began to writhe
whether for freedom  
or in anguish
I couldn't be sure
 
Then
it began to wriggle
with some specific  
purpose of its own in mind
one I dared not dwell over
at that moment  
but the focus  
was entirely in my direction
as it lurched clumsily towards me  
beyond the lip  
of the white porcelain bowl
 
Whatever it was
my own bright blood  
had covered the sum of its parts
which now marked a sticky red trail
that appeared a great deal thicker
than slime
dribbling down  
and seeping slowly  
into the grain of the hardwood floor
 
I felt no physical pain  
only lightheaded astonishment  
quickly reducing to fear
which my unexpected progeny  
seemed to recognize and greet  
with a certain degree of relish
the expression of a creature  
newly deprived of sustenance
who was graciously
about to dine
 
I did the only thing I could
acknowledging my long felt  
instinctive revulsion for
cold blooded predators that crawl
I capitulated to the feeling  
of abject terror
dutifully threw back my head  
opened my mouth  
as wide as I could
and shamelessly began to scream
 
Immediately the creature responded
in a flurry of teeth and scales
with an enormous upwards leap  
surprising for its size
and as its tail disappeared  
rather easily  
down my throat
I thought I discerned
a muted reptilian sigh
one might only describe
as relief