[Snakeskin on the front steps]
Snakeskin on the front steps,
if only it were
mine—
51 thoughts on "[Snakeskin on the front steps]"
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Snakeskin on the front steps,
if only it were
mine—
You must be logged in to post a comment.
the long first line emulates the snakeskin. I suppose even the most grounded folks sometimes want to slough off old skin and reinvent themselves
Thanks, Gaby. Your feedback on craft, such as the first line of your comment here, often astonishes me. You see what I’m doing in my poems better than I do.
I feel this. A little rejuvenation would be lovely right now
Yes! Metaphorically and in my case literally—I have chronically dry skin. Sometimes I wish I could slip right out of it and start over from scratch.
Nice, Kevin. Love the em dash!
Thanks Nancy!
Great metaphor, Kevin!
Thanks John!
that’s beautiful!
Thanks Mike!
Gottttttt
Dam!!!!!!
Yes!
You been reading Hass……
that is epic!
Yes, his translations of Issa, who is a revelation.
Thanks Coleman!
You pack such power and depth into so few words. Love that em-dash at the end. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, H.A.!
I like how short the last line is before the emdash. Makes it feel lyrical
Thanks River! Yes I’ve come to appreciate the power of the one-word line, especially at the end of the poem.
So much packed into 10 words! Masterful!
Thanks Linda!
Snake evidence! The yard’s becoming a jungle.
This particular snake has been around for years, or at least his ancestors have. It leaves me these regular reminders worthy of Rilke: You can change your life.
But am I listening?
The shape, the shortness, and the punch in the last 2 lines, Nice.
Thanks Pam!
(A family of snakes
has lived in our house
for generations.)
You caught the essence
of what it is to be
human.
Thanks Jim!
Again, so much with so few words.
Thanks Wayne!
You can always make the skin into boots. I think they would suit you!
Good idea but it would take a lot more snakeskins 😏
flip flops??
OMG ;-O
I feel as the poem expresses a yearning for rejuvenation—something we all. Hope I’m not too far off the mark.
Exactly, Lee. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Boom!
❤️
Today’s the day for a change of skin!
Every day is, Nancy, but easier said than done.
Your photographer’s eye and ability to translate it into such succinct, clear and unique images amaze me, sir!
Thanks Missy! Funny, but I haven’t thought much about how my photography influences my poetry, except when I’m writing ekphrastic poems. Then again, haiku is an observational form, so it makes sense. Hmmmm.
I love the wistful ache in this piece, Kevin.
Thanks Jeremy!
That’s a helluva long snakeskin of a first line!
Snakes are like that 😏
This is very fun, and took me in unexpected directions.
Thanks Lauren. That’s just where I wanted you to go 😏
They smell mouse dropping and come inside for a meal or more…
Oh lord, Rudy! Now you’ve given me way too much to think about…
a foreshadowing?
Who knows, Laverne. Anything can happen.
What an intriguing poem you’ve created with so few words. Masterful.
Thanks Karen’