–      After Christopher McCurry’s
                                “A Snake, Two Bodies, One Head”

I don’t much like the man, any more,
the way he lounges on his throne,
watchful of the way things are
away in the fields

but he does have a kingdom,
and the guides
drew him forth, in two decks,

so this
is me.  Or how they see
Me

and a spread of others, cast about
the table speaks:   

The Two of Coins.
The Two of Swords.

The Hanged Man
and The Hermit.

For once–finally–I get
to choose

which body
withers away–

which gets
to grow

once

the deck
is cut.