the knuckles in the ground move like you

By Jade Ball

braided bark

hidden in soil

and grass

and something of a mystery

-

he moves over them

smooth like sunset

the arc of his back

rising like the righteous

-

he fascinates you

in a way only your kind could,

asking the reflection

-

if you are the same

if you hiss the same

if you move the same

breathe the same

-

cold in the summer heat

scales and eyes of night

he rattles when you approach

expectations

crunch under the weight of you

slither up your spine

he asks you

-

if you are the same

if you hiss the same

if you move the same

breathe the same

-

death and rebirth

you heal from the bottom up

leaves fall

branches snap

-

as he vibrates the earth

and you can’t tell

if you’re prey

or predator