I am silver
I am silver
a cobra snake with ruby eyes
a trinket somebody bought you
at Montgomery Wards for Christmas.
You treat me meanly--
grab my tail
and slap me to the sky.
You pinch my neck
between fingers and thumb
and shake my head.
Angered and insolent,
I coil--
an ornate pen for your lapel--
Wear me well.
I am Waiting
until the time
is right
to strike.
You are proud to own
and wear at your chin
so finely wrought an art.
Others scheme to wrest
me from your clasp.
Yet you pretend,
because my cost was cheap
that I am worthless--
a mere piece of trim.
I am not worthless.
The match begins.
Others befriend me
like Praying Mantis mate.
They engage me with kisses--
eyes all the time on the prize.
I am not eager for this.
Is to wear me
on a piece of cloth intrigue--
whose ever lapel or neck it be?
Ah--but the silver clasp
that manacles me unfastens.
A prick.
I bite your hand which curses me
with a toss into the weeds
then looks for me
knowing just how much has been lost,
but I am released and move off,
knowing I am silver
and free.
©MARCELLUS LEONARD
MARCELLUS LEONARD is a Associate Professor of English & Writing Specialist in Springfield, Il.
You can email him @
leonard@uis.edu
or click on his name, below to visit his webpage.
MARCELLUS LEONARD AKA somarvelous