vignette

one hand washes the other.

the cat’s tongue licks its feet

and then its bum-hole.

the snake lives within its skin

then leaves it and lives within

another skin.

a new address.

a new zip code.

better traction over the land.

same bite. same poison.

same disposition.

all natural.

no added perfumes.

brain still the size of a pea.

still scary. still pretty.

and since the beginning of time

we still run from snakes.

but think about the cat’s tongue

next time it licks you.