the knuckles in the ground move like you By Jade Ball
braided bark hidden in soil and grass and something of a mystery
if you are the same if you hiss the same if you move the same breathe the same
he moves over them smooth like sunset the arc of his back rising like the righteous
death and rebirth you heal from the bottom up leaves fall branches snap
he fascinates you in a way only your kind could, asking the reflection
as he vibrates the earth and you can’t tell if you’re prey or predator
if you are the same if you hiss the same if you move the same breathe the same cold in the summer heat scales and eyes of night he rattles when you approach expectations crunch under the weight of you slither up your spine he asks you
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