Snake

Hardly a sound in your world, Only the repetitious "S". In your coiled strength, Your sliding motion and your suddenness, The pure silk of your pink mouth, The sloughing of a whole skin, And that sparkling newness As you stretch, easy in your new length, Cool and supple as a stream's dance. I hear no hiss as your tongue's black tips Like a shivering nerve detect that strange warmth, Nor hiss of triumph as you swallow whole your prey. Hardly a sound in your world, Only the echoing "S" In your bold stare belying The true shyness of a snake As you watch me from a safe distance. The "S" contains your whole being Which makes you more complete than me, As I have no sound's shape.