Hiss
Through the grasses I slink
careful, callous, confident
Meeting man and beast
with the abyss of my
unhinged jaw, unfazed
by the nails clawing
at my blackness
And yet,
when your tattered sandal
blocked my ancient path,
I halted, astounded by the
opulence of your audacity
The sun itself rested upon
your crown, encouraged
by your devotion and peace,
the faith in your daring step
You pull a flask from behind
your emerald shawl, and I--
--I bare my teeth with
ill-advised arrogance, a
refusal of my fate
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