Lampropeltis triangulum, coral false albine snake
Snake
In Our Midst…
on the sunbaked
patio, a little girl,
discovers a snake
sunning itself
on a boulder
she runs into
the house
jubilantly reports
the presence…
adults rush out
to view a finely
striped reptile
coral snake—
very dangerous
or milk snake—
friendly, safe.
who among us
can recite the rhyme
Yellow touches red
you’ll be dead
Red touches black
friend of Jack
we stare down at
the sleeping snake,
poisonous or benign
adventurer with years
of experience says
harmless milk snake
the danger passes
but what if there
is a venomous
snake waiting
masquerading
as harmless
who can assure
our safety
we must be
vigilant
repeat
incantations
identify
threats
hiding
in plain
sight
House of Mirrors
I want to meander by the lake,
absorb reflections on water,
clouds appearing and disappearing
like a film in slow motion, gulls circling in late afternoon,
soft breeze caressing my shoulders.
I want to gaze into my immigrant grandmother’s handheld mirror,
remember her pride in becoming a citizen, how she studied
the constitution, her gentle voice reciting the articles.
I want to look into the full-length bedroom mirror, where
one night while adjusting my skirt, my husband wrapped
his arms around me, our two faces smiling back.
Entwined
We are fallen magnolias
adjacent sky where shadows live
tunnels for rabbits
midnight chaos and morning mists
untamed California poppies
extruded marble
at the mouth of the canyon
shape and form
contorted metal
a cymbal flower
tree spirits and fireworks
We are a precision of weeds
dancing with fennel
corresponding with ghosts
bioluminescence
of a Kimiko lantern
a few emotional states
fitting together
motion and rest
a shadow ballet
illuminated
slab of a half-moon
multitudes of differences
sedimentation of memory