Carole Bromley
Why did I do it?
Because I’m sick of staying in my place,
that’s why. So now you know.
I felt like a snake in a zoo, uncoiling ,
flicking my tongue for visitors.
So tame they wanted to stroke me,
to lower themselves into my pit,
feel the surprise of my cool skin
against their limbs. Oh, they erected
locks and pulleys to control me, but I
was biding my time, gathering strength
to break out, curl round their houses,
squeeze them out. And when they’d fled
to higher ground, I snuck in under doors
and made myself at home, shook things up
a bit before I left, chucked stuff around
to show them they couldn’t mess with me,
that nothing could keep me out
when I felt like coming back. Not even
a castle. Here I come, I whispered
in the night, lick, lick, licking
up the steps, hoopla! A moat.
Just what you always wanted.
that’s why. So now you know.
I felt like a snake in a zoo, uncoiling ,
flicking my tongue for visitors.
So tame they wanted to stroke me,
to lower themselves into my pit,
feel the surprise of my cool skin
against their limbs. Oh, they erected
locks and pulleys to control me, but I
was biding my time, gathering strength
to break out, curl round their houses,
squeeze them out. And when they’d fled
to higher ground, I snuck in under doors
and made myself at home, shook things up
a bit before I left, chucked stuff around
to show them they couldn’t mess with me,
that nothing could keep me out
when I felt like coming back. Not even
a castle. Here I come, I whispered
in the night, lick, lick, licking
up the steps, hoopla! A moat.
Just what you always wanted.
Page(s) 11
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