WEBVTT

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Hi.

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"'Western Diamond-backed
Rattlesnake."

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After the Crotalus atrox.

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1.

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I have been listening
for a rattle

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since I arrived in the
desert on every hike

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with shuffling feet--

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because that is
what the snake is.

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The sound sums it up.

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Isn't it?

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2.

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Snakes prized for their shed
by hoodoo workers and lovers

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are all practitioners from time
to darker time Snake shed--

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the black and white patterns in
spiritual baths like dried bits

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bloat and float above rose
petals and Dragon's Blood

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Dragon's blood is a
simple resin and not so

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scary after Snake oil--

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from Cambodia, it really
does have venom Venom--

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a lip gloss made from peppermint
oil for plumping and coating

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lips turned snake-charmer
irresistible

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3.

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This poem should be called,
"practical uses for snake"

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but something should not be
summed up by how it is used

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someone should not be
summed up by someone

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else someone should
not use someone

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4.

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I have been looking for
diamonds on cold skin

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for eight years I
have been listening

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for a rattle for eight years
I have been hiking for eight

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years I have found
the memory of a thing,

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but never the thing itself

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I have watched my cat--

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who is from New York,
who is from Tampa,

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who is from a box in
front of a Walmart

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in a small town in Florida--

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tear the beaks off
of cactus wren,

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and I have killed
many cockroaches,

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but I haven't heard
the rapid fire.

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Chicka-chick, chicka-chick.

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5.

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My bath water is getting cold

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6.

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I have been preparing
for a transition

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black and white patterns
floating on the surface

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but when you said change
I thought you meant good

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7.

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This is what I
know about snakes--

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they are not very good at
protecting your heart Even when

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you wrap them around a red
candle Even when you hang

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the eastern version of
the western diamondback

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across the most important
alter in your house

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Even when you dream that
you save them from a fire

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Even when you dream
that you love them

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Even when you carry a bag
that is made out of cow

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but it is made to look
like them Even when

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you cover your steering
wheel with fabric made

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to look like them
Even when you long

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to cover your whole
body in their skin

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Even when you will not allow
them to be a bad omen Even

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when you drive into
the tin creosote desert

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during a storm to find them

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Even then they are
not very good at it

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Even then there is a
hollow shed with no rattle

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Even then someone should
not use Even then.

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Thank you.

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[APPLAUSE]

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