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Even the Snakes and the Bloody Moon

sweet pungent odor
fermented hay 
dark and warm
slithers of light spit
through the cracks of the
warped weathered wood
old pie tin lies in the dirt 
in its corner
where the mean old bull snake
drank milk with the cats
and kept the rats and rattlers 
at bay
there's a buzzing and a hissing  
on the other side of this rickety door 
inside this old abandoned barn
I decided to explore
I'm about to shove through
but before I do
I look down to see
an Arizona black coiled up
its cold eyes 
drawing a bead 
whoa there little fella
didn't see you
used to be
I'd blow your head off
tan your hide 
and roll you up to toss
in a cigar box
with the others
now--I don't know why
you seem like
such a harmless guy
you didn't strike
well then won't I
and I like the light
reflected off your shiny scales
and the way you glide
so smoothly and methodically
over rough wood
nothing anyway
through that door
just old leather
bridals and reins
broken down boots
and rusty tools
outside 
light blinds
squinting to see
corroded red tank 
shot full of holes
every idiot with a gun
can't resist 
putting in another one 
and the dusty chaparral
stretches up to the cool pines
as far as this trail goes
I follow
just a 
not quite 
snake bit 
Arizona boomer
kick'n around 
couple of days after 
that bloody November 
moon
(I set my alarm to)
yeah
whatever it means
sometimes its better 
just to keep moving
with the sweet 
sun on your shoulder
no rush 
whatever I'm looking for
it's gonna find me
even the snakes
and the bloody moon

Copyright © Steven Young

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