Hi.
"'Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake."
After the Crotalus atrox.
1.
I have been listening for a rattle
since I arrived in the desert on every hike
with shuffling feet--
because that is what the snake is.
The sound sums it up.
Isn't it?
2.
Snakes prized for their shed by hoodoo workers and lovers
are all practitioners from time to darker time Snake shed--
the black and white patterns in spiritual baths like dried bits
bloat and float above rose petals and Dragon's Blood
Dragon's blood is a simple resin and not so
scary after Snake oil--
from Cambodia, it really does have venom Venom--
a lip gloss made from peppermint oil for plumping and coating
lips turned snake-charmer irresistible
3.
This poem should be called, "practical uses for snake"
but something should not be summed up by how it is used
someone should not be summed up by someone
else someone should not use someone
4.
I have been looking for diamonds on cold skin
for eight years I have been listening
for a rattle for eight years I have been hiking for eight
years I have found the memory of a thing,
but never the thing itself
I have watched my cat--
who is from New York, who is from Tampa,
who is from a box in front of a Walmart
in a small town in Florida--
tear the beaks off of cactus wren,
and I have killed many cockroaches,
but I haven't heard the rapid fire.
Chicka-chick, chicka-chick.
5.
My bath water is getting cold
6.
I have been preparing for a transition
black and white patterns floating on the surface
but when you said change I thought you meant good
7.
This is what I know about snakes--
they are not very good at protecting your heart Even when
you wrap them around a red candle Even when you hang
the eastern version of the western diamondback
across the most important alter in your house
Even when you dream that you save them from a fire
Even when you dream that you love them
Even when you carry a bag that is made out of cow
but it is made to look like them Even when
you cover your steering wheel with fabric made
to look like them Even when you long
to cover your whole body in their skin
Even when you will not allow them to be a bad omen Even
when you drive into the tin creosote desert
during a storm to find them
Even then they are not very good at it
Even then there is a hollow shed with no rattle
Even then someone should not use Even then.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]