Saturday, December 06, 2008

XLVII - The Snake

.
Laura Jayne at Pictures, Poetry & Prose poses a daily writing challenge.
Too much for me to do daily but occasionally? Why not.


The Snake

Forked tongue, stoic face,
Flicker, flicker, flicker.

Steely eyes survey its space
Flicker, flicker, flicker.

Tension coiled for a chase
Flicker, flicker, flicker.

Threatening cold embrace
Flicker, flicker, flicker.

Sinuous moves, unctuous grace
Flicker, flicker, flicker.

Oils away without a trace
Flicker, flicker, flicker.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery
---
Print this post

25 comments:

  1. What prompted you to choose the snake as the topic to write about?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, I like the imagery by the way. You have sort of reversed part of my life - a friend once described sex with a Filipino nurse of our acquaintance as like 'wrestling with an oiled snake'. The oily references to the snake sit well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unctuous grace is an oxymoron, methinks, but it sounds good. Is this a gender neutral snake? A remnant of your Riki Tiki Tavi youth?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I thought unctuous meant oily. Why is that incompatible with grace? I'll stand my ground on that one! :-P

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lee: Why did I choose a snake? No idea.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So glad you shared here and there your Snake charms. Will be thrilled to have you back whenever you can... daily or occasionally.

    ReplyDelete
  7. brings back memories ..
    ohhhh, the snakes i've known ..

    ReplyDelete
  8. You certainly have been prolific with your poems over the last couple of days...you are a talented man. ♥

    I really dont like snakes, cold, slithering creatures...I've had too many close encounters living near the bushland...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Not a big snake fan but I like your poem.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am being familiar with the cobra snake and I am saying that it is very much as you describe.

    ReplyDelete
  11. im a little mongoose
    long and lean
    the baddest snake killa
    you ever have seen
    put us in a pit for some
    fightin' extreme
    i'll rip that unctuous oiler
    then wipe the floor clean

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oooo...horrid little mongoose!

    ReplyDelete
  13. "–adjective 1. characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, esp. in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug.
    2. of the nature of or characteristic of an unguent or ointment; oily; greasy.
    3. having an oily or soapy feel, as certain minerals."

    Maybe I was thinking of Dictionary.com's #1 definition, which characterized the Serpent's manner as he seduced Eve (and Adam by default.) They fell from grace and were no longer full of grace - ahem... graceful - but, the poet knows best. I just wanted to explain my logic, Bard.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Perhaps it has something to do with snake oil salesmen too?

    We'll let you off this time. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have to say...if Santa really knows if I've been good, or bad...
    I'm totally screwed~

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well, that explains your angelic smile!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What does Santa have to do with snakes? I'm missing something here.

    Give us a poem about Rudolph, Cosmo. It would be... well... really seasonal (or maybe just well-seasoned...)

    ReplyDelete
  18. SS: Mayden has replied to a comment I put of her blog, so we are cross pollenating a bit here. But that's OK.

    Rudolf, huh? Let me think about it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've given you an award... come to my place and get it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ahhhhhh.

    That's all I have to say. I'm not proud.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Your blog makes me happy. I admire your restraint and focus. I love your poems and photos.

    ReplyDelete
  22. alas there was a poor old snake I know,
    when the wrong road did he did go.
    He was squashed flat
    with a greek speaking mouse eating cat,
    but why the greek was eating his cat while speaking mouse I'll never know.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ah Boneman, it's good to have you back!

    ReplyDelete
  24. can I have some wine, now, sir?

    ReplyDelete

You've come this far - thank you.
Take your time, look around,
There is lots to see.